Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Galway Kinnell’s poem "Near Barbizon" offers a striking portrayal of a woodgatherer whose visceral connection to his labor and land underscores a profound disillusionment with political systems and societal structures. The poem’s setting, tone, and character interactions vividly illustrate themes of disenchantment, resilience, and the dignity found in honest labor.

The poem begins with an auditory imagery that sets a tone of tension and anticipation: "At first I thought some animal, wounded, / Thrashed in the brush." This initial misperception of a wounded animal creates a sense of unease and foreboding. The sound, however, is revealed to be the woodgatherer "Out after lunch breaking twigs for his fire," engaging in a mundane yet physically demanding task. Kinnell’s choice to depict the woodgatherer’s method of breaking branches—raising them "like a flail / And beat[ing] a boulder until the weapon broke"—emphasizes the man's brute strength and persistence.

The conversation between the speaker and the woodgatherer shifts the poem’s focus to the socio-political context of their encounter. The speaker’s inquiry about the woodgatherer’s voting intentions during election time elicits a stark and cynical response: "If there came into your house by night / Thieves, to which would you offer your wife?" This rhetorical question reflects the woodgatherer’s view of politicians as indistinguishable from thieves, each equally unworthy of trust or support. His follow-up declaration, "I am too honest, merde, too poor to vote," captures his disillusionment with the political process, implying that his integrity and poverty exclude him from participating in a corrupt system.

The woodgatherer’s occupation as a gardener is another significant element in the poem. When asked about his trade, he acknowledges that he makes "things bloom" but immediately adds, "Yes, and the pay's / Nothing." This juxtaposition of his role in nurturing life and the lack of financial reward highlights the disconnect between the value of his work and the economic recognition it receives. His labor, both as a woodgatherer and a gardener, is physically taxing and underappreciated, yet it is imbued with an intrinsic worth that transcends monetary compensation.

Kinnell’s depiction of the woodgatherer’s physical actions—flailing the rocks "in savage, measured / Strokes"—mirrors his internal struggle and frustration. The repetition of "the pay's nothing" as he looks up, his eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and resignation, underscores his deep-seated discontent. The poem closes with a powerful image of the woodgatherer, whose intense labor and fierce independence stand in stark contrast to the perceived naivety and privilege of the speaker, referred to disparagingly as "this ignorant American, this fascist tool."

"Near Barbizon" is a poignant exploration of the tension between labor and politics, integrity and disillusionment. Kinnell’s portrayal of the woodgatherer reveals a man deeply connected to the physical world and disenchanted with societal structures that fail to honor the value of his work. The poem’s rich imagery and candid dialogue invite readers to reflect on the dignity of labor and the often-overlooked human cost of political and economic systems.

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