Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Home to Roost" is a poem by Kay Ryan, an American poet born in 1945. The poem was first published in Ryan's 2004 poetry collection, "The Niagara River." The poem explores the consequences of our actions and the idea that everything we do comes back to us in some way.

Explanation:

"Home to Roost" is a meditation on the consequences of our actions. The poem begins by describing a flock of chickens that have come home to roost, suggesting that the speaker has been neglecting their responsibilities and that the chickens are a metaphor for their mistakes. The poem goes on to explore the idea that everything we do has consequences, and that our actions always come back to us in some way. The poem concludes by suggesting that we should take responsibility for our mistakes and learn from them.

Poetic Elements:

• Metaphor: the chickens are a metaphor for the speaker's mistakes
• Personification: the chickens are portrayed as having a consciousness and a will of their own
• Rhyme scheme: the poem has a consistent AABB rhyme scheme
• Imagery: the poem includes vivid descriptions of the chickens and their behavior

Conclusion:

"Home to Roost" is a powerful meditation on the consequences of our actions and the idea that everything we do has a ripple effect. The poem encourages us to take responsibility for our mistakes and learn from them, rather than trying to ignore them or run away from them.

Poem Snippet:

"The chickens are circling and blotting out the day"

"They have come home to roost"

"who abandoned them/who wanted to flatten them into/pancakes in a punishing pan"

"Whoever put/It there in the first place/America will find/It again"