Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dora Sigerson Shorter's poem "The Kine of My Father" brings forth a poignant narrative of longing, loss, and the mystical element of foreboding. Set against the backdrop of pastoral life, the poem centers on a lamenting speaker who senses the death of a loved one through the keening of a banshee. This sense of impending doom contrasts with the everyday tasks of tending to the cattle and goats, forming a powerful commentary on the inescapable force of mortality and the human yearning for connection.

Themes

Mourning and Longing:

The speaker's sorrow over the absence of their loved one is the central theme of the poem. Their longing is not merely for physical closeness but for the assurance of the loved one's well-being.

Premonition and Supernatural Elements:

The banshee's keening serves as an eerie harbinger of death. This supernatural element infuses the poem with an otherworldly quality, reflecting the deep-rooted fear and anticipation of loss.

Nature and Human Existence:

The natural world in the poem represents both the mundane tasks of life and the larger forces at play. The prairie, the wind, the rain, and the animals all play roles in depicting a scene that contrasts life's daily labor with the grandeur and cruelty of nature.

Structure and Style

The poem adopts a rhythmic structure (AABB) with consistent rhyming, mirroring the cyclical nature of life and death. The language is rich in imagery and emotion, capturing the speaker's pain, fear, and despair.

Analysis

The poem opens with the tangible concerns of pastoral life - the straying cattle and mischievous goats - but quickly shifts into the ethereal realm with the haunting sound of the banshee's keening. This blending of the earthly and the otherworldly sets the tone for the entire poem.

The speaker's distress is palpable, their hands "clasped in anguish" as they hear the banshee's warning. The recurring image of the loved one's "black head" signifies the personal and physical connection, emphasizing the intimacy of their relationship.

Imagery of thirst, hunger, and abandonment paints a vivid picture of the loved one's suffering. The use of predatory animals like vultures and coyotes adds to the raw, primal nature of the envisioned tragedy.

The speaker's wish to have their loved one's grave at their feet is a poignant expression of their desire to be near, to offer protection and prayers. This longing for physical proximity underscores the torment of separation.

Historical and Cultural Context

The use of the banshee, a figure from Irish folklore known to wail before someone's death, adds a cultural dimension to the poem. It speaks to the beliefs and traditions that surround death and grief, reflecting a universal human experience.

Conclusion

Dora Sigerson Shorter's "The Kine of My Father" is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the timeless human struggle with mortality. Through a blending of the pastoral and the supernatural, the poem captures the profound connection between human existence and the natural world.

The haunting presence of the banshee and the vivid images of suffering create a visceral portrait of grief. In its rhythmic lamentation, the poem offers a poignant reflection on longing, the inescapable reach of death, and the deep-rooted human desire to remain connected to those we love, even when they are far away.

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