Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In this poem, titled "Pickle Belt," Theodore Roethke portrays the monotony and desire of a teenage boy working at a pickle factory. The opening lines depict the endless stream of fruit rolling by and the workers' preoccupations with pay and rest. However, the focus soon shifts to the boy's experience as he catches the scent of a woman, "she," standing beside him. He is described as "perplexed" by his desire for her, even as he is covered in dust and itching from the work. The contrast between the mundane work and the heightened emotions of the boy is striking. The poem highlights the tension between the physical and emotional worlds, as well as the power of desire to disrupt routine. "Pickle Belt" was published in Roethke's collection of poems, "The Lost Son and Other Poems," in 1948.