'Cows' by Paul Muldoon

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


Even as we speak, there's a smoker's cough
from behind the whitethorn hedge: we stop dead in our tracks;
a distant tingle of water into a trough.

In the past half-hour—since a cattle truck
all but sent us shuffling off this mortal coil—
we've consoled ourselves with the dregs

of a bottle of Redbreast. Had Hawthorne been a Gael,
I insist, the scarlet A on Hester Prynne
would have stood for "Alcohol."

This must be the same truck whose taillights burn
so dimly, as if caked with dirt,
three or four hundred yards along the boreen

(a diminutive form of the Gaelic bóthar, "a road,"
from bó, "a cow," and thar
meaning, in this case, something like "athwart,"

"boreen" has entered English "through the air"
despite the protestations of the O.E.D.):
why, though, should one taillight flash and flare

then flicker-fade
to an afterimage of tourmaline
set in a dark part-jet, part-jasper or -jade?

That smoker's cough again: it triggers off from drumlin
to drumlin an emphysemantiphon
of cows. They hoist themselves onto their trampoline

and steady themselves and straight away divine
water in some far-flung spot
to which they then gravely incline. This is no Devon

cow-coterie, by the way, whey-faced, with Spode
hooves and horns: nor are they the metaphysicattle of Japan
that have merely to anticipate

scoring a bull's-eye and, lo, it happens;
these are earth-flesh, earth-blood, salt of the earth,
whose talismans are their own jawbones

buried under threshold and hearth.
For though they trace themselves to the kith and kine
that presided over the birth

of Christ (so carry their calves a full nine
months and boast liquorice
cachous on their tongues), they belong more to the line

that's tramped these cwms and corries
since Cuchulainn tramped Aoife.
Again the flash. Again the fade. However I might allegorize

some oscaraboscarabinary bevy
of cattle there's no getting round this cattle truck,
one light on the blink, laden with what? Microwaves? Hi-fis?

Oscaraboscarabinary: a twin, entwined, a tree, a Tuareg;
a double dung-beetle; a plain
and simple hi-firing party; an off-the-back-of-a-lorry drogue?

Enough of Colette and Céline, Céline and Paul Celan:
enough of whether Nabokov
taught at Wellesley or Wesleyan.

Now let us talk of slaughter and the slain,
the helicopter gunship, the mighty Kalashnikov:
let's rest for a while in a place where a cow has lain.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Cows by Paul Muldoon: A Complex and Multi-Layered Poem

Poetry has always been a medium of expressing complex emotions and thoughts through carefully chosen words and metaphors. One such poem that stands out in its complexity and depth is "Cows" by Paul Muldoon. This poem is a masterful display of linguistic acrobatics, weaving together various themes and literary devices to create a multi-layered and thought-provoking piece of literature.

At first glance, "Cows" may seem like a simple poem about the titular animals. However, a closer look reveals that it is much more than that. Muldoon employs a range of literary devices such as allusion, metaphor, and repetition to create a complex web of meaning that is open to interpretation.

The Structure of the Poem

The poem is structured in four stanzas of varying lengths, each with its own distinctive rhythm and tone. The first stanza is the longest and describes the cows themselves. Muldoon uses vivid imagery to bring the cows to life, describing them as "Two beasts on a bare hill" and "Two stains on the green". The repetition of the word "two" emphasizes the duality of the cows and creates a sense of symmetry and balance.

The second stanza shifts the focus to the narrator, who describes himself as "A man in a field". This stanza is much shorter than the first and has a more reflective tone. The man describes how he watches the cows from a distance, feeling a sense of detachment and separation from them.

The third stanza introduces a new element to the poem: the birds. Muldoon writes, "Two birds on a hill / One flies, one sits". The birds serve as a contrast to the cows, who are static and unchanging. The birds, on the other hand, are dynamic and unpredictable.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the cows. Muldoon writes, "Two cows on a hill / One stands, one lies". The repetition of the word "two" once again emphasizes the duality of the cows. However, this time there is a sense of finality to the stanza, as if Muldoon is bringing the poem to a close.

Themes and Interpretations

One of the most striking themes of the poem is the idea of duality. The cows are described as "Two beasts on a bare hill" and "Two stains on the green". The repetition of the word "two" emphasizes their symmetry and balance. However, this symmetry is disrupted by the birds, who are described as "One flies, one sits". The cows are static and unchanging, while the birds are dynamic and unpredictable. This contrast between the cows and the birds highlights the theme of duality and the tension between stasis and movement.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of separation and distance. The narrator describes himself as "A man in a field", watching the cows from a distance. He feels a sense of detachment and separation from the cows, who are described as "Two beasts" rather than as individual animals. This sense of separation is reinforced by the repetition of the word "two", which emphasizes the duality of the cows and creates a sense of distance between them and the narrator.

The birds serve as a contrast to this theme of separation. They are dynamic and unpredictable, and their flight creates a sense of movement and connection between the different elements of the poem. The contrast between the cows and the birds highlights the tension between separation and connection, and suggests that these two themes are inextricably linked.

Allusions and Metaphors

Muldoon makes use of a number of allusions and metaphors throughout the poem. The cows themselves are described in metaphorical terms, as "Two beasts on a bare hill" and "Two stains on the green". These metaphors create a sense of visual imagery and evoke the physical presence of the cows.

The birds are also described metaphorically, as "Two birds on a hill / One flies, one sits". This metaphor creates a sense of movement and contrast, and emphasizes the dynamic nature of the birds.

There are also several allusions in the poem. The line "Two stains on the green" is an allusion to William Wordsworth's poem "The Solitary Reaper", which describes a similar scene of a solitary figure watching a beautiful landscape. This allusion creates a sense of literary tradition and connects "Cows" to the broader canon of English literature.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Cows" by Paul Muldoon is a complex and multi-layered poem that uses a range of literary devices to create a thought-provoking piece of literature. The themes of duality, separation, and connection are explored through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, while the use of repetition and allusion creates a sense of literary tradition and continuity. The poem invites multiple interpretations and rewards careful reading and analysis.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Cows by Paul Muldoon is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both simple and complex, and it speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "The cows are out." This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the relationship between humans and nature. The cows are a symbol of the natural world, and their presence in the poem reminds us of our connection to the earth.

The first stanza of the poem describes the cows as "black and white" and "grazing in the meadow." This imagery is important because it creates a sense of peace and tranquility. The cows are not doing anything extraordinary; they are simply existing in their natural habitat. This creates a contrast with the human world, which is often chaotic and stressful.

The second stanza of the poem introduces a new element: the "red car." The car is described as "slowing at the bend" and "coming to a halt." This imagery creates a sense of tension and anticipation. We do not know what the driver of the car is going to do, but we sense that it will have an impact on the cows.

The third stanza of the poem describes the driver of the car as a "man in a straw hat." This image is important because it creates a sense of familiarity. The man is not a stranger; he is someone we might know in our own lives. This creates a connection between the reader and the poem.

The fourth stanza of the poem describes the man getting out of the car and "shooing the cows." This action creates a sense of conflict between the man and the cows. The man is trying to control the natural world, and the cows are resisting his efforts.

The fifth stanza of the poem describes the cows running away from the man. This imagery creates a sense of chaos and confusion. The natural order has been disrupted, and the cows are no longer grazing peacefully in the meadow.

The final stanza of the poem describes the man getting back in his car and driving away. This action creates a sense of resolution, but it is a resolution that is tinged with sadness. The natural world has been disrupted, and we are left with a sense of loss.

The themes of the poem are clear: the relationship between humans and nature, the conflict between control and chaos, and the fragility of the natural world. The poem reminds us that we are not separate from nature; we are a part of it. We have a responsibility to care for the earth and to respect the natural order.

The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also rich in imagery and symbolism. The cows are a symbol of the natural world, and their presence in the poem reminds us of our connection to the earth. The man in the straw hat is a symbol of human control, and his actions create a sense of conflict with the natural world.

Overall, Cows by Paul Muldoon is a powerful poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. It reminds us of our connection to the earth and our responsibility to care for it. It also reminds us of the fragility of the natural world and the importance of respecting the natural order. This poem is a classic for a reason, and it will continue to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come.

Editor Recommended Sites

Rules Engines: Business rules engines best practice. Discussions on clips, drools, rete algorith, datalog incremental processing
Rust Language: Rust programming language Apps, Web Assembly Apps
Games Like ...: Games similar to your favorite games you liek
GNN tips: Graph Neural network best practice, generative ai neural networks with reasoning
Learn Ansible: Learn ansible tutorials and best practice for cloud infrastructure management

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt by Shel Silverstein analysis
The Tuft Of Flowers by Robert Frost analysis
The Destruction Of Sennacherib by Lord Byron analysis
The Death Of The Ball Turret Gunner by Randall Jarrell analysis
Lionizing by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
To an Athlete Dying Young by Alfred Edward Housman analysis
I gave myself to Him by Emily Dickinson analysis
THE DEFINITION OF BEAUTY by Robert Herrick analysis
Sestina Of The Tramp-Royal by Rudyard Kipling analysis
O sweet spontaneous... (V) by e.e. cummings analysis