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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Harvesters Resting; After Millet" by David Ferry, as indicated by the title, draws inspiration from the paintings of Jean-François Millet, who famously depicted rural and peasant scenes. Ferry's poem captures a moment of tranquility and mundane reality, focusing on harvesters resting in the shade during a break in their labor. The poem not only paints a vivid picture of this scene but also delves into themes of human labor, rest, and the subtle dynamics within social interactions. The setting is clearly described in the opening lines: "In the middle of the day, in the great shadow of the grain stack, the harvesters are resting and having their midday meal." The image of the great shadow of the grain stack provides a visual and symbolic shelter for the workers, offering a temporary respite from the sun and their toils. This scene captures the essence of pastoral life, highlighting both the physical and communal aspects of agricultural labor. The arrival of Boaz with a woman introduces a narrative element that may suggest a reference to the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, where Ruth, a Moabite widow, works in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy relative of her deceased husband. This allusion adds a layer of depth to the poem, enriching the simple scene with themes of kindness, providence, and potential romantic interest, though these are not explicitly detailed in the poem. The comparison of the harvesters to cattle, "meticulous as cattle in their attention to the task of resting and feeding," emphasizes their methodical, almost instinctual engagement in rest, parallel to their labor. This simile serves to underline the natural, almost animalistic necessity of rest in the cycle of labor, a theme that Millet himself often explored in his works. The workers are described as being so absorbed in their rest and nourishment that they barely notice the arrival of Boaz and the woman, which underscores the depth of their exhaustion and the preciousness of this rest period. However, the mention of others who regard the woman with a "slow, blind, thorough look that cattle have, spellbound in the noontime heat" introduces an element of human curiosity and observation. This gaze, likened to that of cattle, suggests a depth of observation that transcends mere exhaustion. It might imply a contemplation or evaluation that is profound yet unfocused, perhaps due to the drowsy, lethargic state brought on by the midday heat and heavy physical work. The poem's structure, devoid of any complex syntactical constructions, mirrors the straightforward and unembellished lives of the harvesters. The language is clear and direct, focusing on immediate, sensory details that ground the reader in the moment being described. Overall, "Harvesters Resting; After Millet" by David Ferry is a contemplative piece that captures a moment of pastoral life, reflecting on the themes of labor, rest, and human social dynamics within a rural setting. The poem's power lies in its ability to convey profound truths through a simple scene, much like Millet's paintings, which elevate the everyday lives of peasants into subjects worthy of artistic and poetic representation.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEETHOVEN, OPUS 111 by AMY CLAMPITT THE MAN WITH THE HOE by EDWIN MARKHAM BEETHOVEN, OPUS 111 by AMY CLAMPITT HARVESTERS RESTING; AFTER MILLET by DAVID FERRY ETUDES DE PLUSIERS PAYSAGES DE L' AME: 1 by HAYDEN CARRUTH PROMETHEUS by GEORGE GORDON BYRON SEA GODS: 3 by HILDA DOOLITTLE MONODY ON THE DEATH OF WENDELL PHILLIPS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TO A GIPSY CHILD BY THE SEA-SHORE by MATTHEW ARNOLD INVITATION TO PETERHEAD by JAMES HAY BEATTIE |
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