Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Between the Boxcars" is a ballad written by Robert Penn Warren in 1923, which recounts the tale of a railroad worker and his tragic death. The ballad explores themes of labor, oppression, and the struggle for justice.

Explanation:

The poem tells the story of a railroad worker who falls between two boxcars and is killed. The speaker describes the physical labor that the worker undertakes, as well as the harsh conditions he endures in his job. The ballad highlights the dangers of the worker's profession, and the lack of safety measures provided by his employer.

The tone of the poem is mournful, as the speaker reflects on the tragedy of the worker's death and the injustice of the situation. The poem portrays the worker as a victim of a system that does not value his life, and emphasizes the struggle for justice and equality in the face of such oppression.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in ballad form, with a consistent rhyme scheme and a musical rhythm that emphasizes the story being told.
• Imagery: The ballad uses vivid imagery to create a sense of the physical labor and dangerous conditions that the worker endures.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is mournful, emphasizing the tragic nature of the worker's death and the injustice of the situation.
• Language: The language used in the ballad is simple and straightforward, mirroring the directness of the story being told.
• Structure: The consistent rhyme and meter of the ballad help to emphasize the storytelling nature of the poem.
• Symbolism: The railroad worker can be seen as a symbol of the working class, victimized by a system that values profit over human life.

Conclusion:

"Between the Boxcars" is a poignant ballad that emphasizes the struggle for justice and equality in the face of oppression. The poem portrays a worker victimized by a system that does not value his life, and mourns his tragic death. Through vivid imagery and a consistent rhyme and meter, the ballad tells a powerful story of the struggle for dignity and respect in the face of harsh working conditions.

POEM TEXT:

Some are teethed on a silver spoon,

Some are spoon-fed truth.

Then there’s the dumbfuck spitting and whistling

Like a possum in a hollow tooth.

His heart is a stalled engine,

His hands, cats’-claws,

Laughing, tickling, trying to pry

Open the mouth of the South.

His words are baloney in a silver bowl,

His days are filled with jelly-roll.

He will arise and go now,

And go down to the swamp,

And sing his song to the tree-toads,

And sleep in a pile of leaves.

He’s a wolf-child, a pain-proof Zeno,

A dancer on blades of coal,

Never to be the last among men,

Never to be the first,

And now he’s between the boxcars,

Laughing at his luck,

Singing his song in the dark.

And I say, this dumbfuck is all I’ve got.

But he’s a big plenty for me.

And I shout in my sleep, “Come on, boy,

And sing it again for me.”

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