Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Galway Kinnell's poem "Saint Francis and the Sow" is a profound meditation on inherent beauty, self-worth, and the transformative power of love and affirmation. Through the figure of Saint Francis, who is historically known for his compassion towards animals, Kinnell explores the idea that all creatures, regardless of their outward appearance, possess an intrinsic loveliness that sometimes needs to be rekindled.

The poem opens with the simple yet profound declaration: "The bud / stands for all things, / even for those things that don't flower." This metaphor suggests that potential and beauty exist in all forms, not just those that visibly blossom. The notion that "everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing" emphasizes the internal source of this beauty and worth, suggesting that true flourishing comes from recognizing and accepting one’s own value.

Kinnell acknowledges that there are times when this self-recognition falters, and it becomes necessary "to reteach a thing its loveliness." The repetition of this phrase underscores its importance, and the poet introduces the gentle, healing touch as a means to this end: "to put a hand on its brow / of the flower / and retell it in words and in touch / it is lovely." The combination of physical touch and verbal affirmation is depicted as a powerful act of restoration, capable of reigniting the internal flowering of self-worth.

The poem then shifts to the specific example of Saint Francis, who embodies this compassionate act. Saint Francis, renowned for his humility and love for all creatures, "put his hand on the creased forehead / of the sow, and told her in words and in touch / blessings of earth on the sow." This image of Saint Francis blessing the sow serves as a poignant illustration of the poem’s central theme. The sow, an animal often perceived as unclean and unattractive, is transformed through Francis’s blessing. The act of blessing is both physical and spiritual, connecting the sow to the earth and affirming her intrinsic beauty and value.

The transformation that follows is described in rich, sensory detail: "the sow / began remembering all down her thick length, / from the earthen snout all the way / through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of the tail." This passage traces the sow's body from its humble, earthy origins to its final, almost mystical, expression in the curl of the tail. The "hard spininess spiked out from the spine" and "the great broken heart" evoke both the physical reality of the sow and the emotional depth of her experience.

Kinnell further describes the "sheer blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering / from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking and blowing beneath them." This image not only emphasizes the natural, nurturing aspect of the sow but also highlights the interconnectedness of life and the cycles of giving and receiving. The "long, perfect loveliness of sow" is a culmination of this process of rediscovery and affirmation, suggesting that true beauty lies in the recognition and acceptance of one’s whole self.

"Saint Francis and the Sow" is a tender and compassionate exploration of the nature of beauty and self-worth. Through the figure of Saint Francis and the humble sow, Kinnell illustrates the power of love and affirmation to transform and heal. The poem invites readers to see beyond superficial appearances and recognize the inherent beauty that lies within all beings. It is a call to practice kindness and compassion, not only towards others but also towards oneself, to nurture and reaffirm the loveliness that exists within.

Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...