'The Old Wolf My Father' by Robinson Jeffers
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I have a little...not fame, call it reputation—for writing verses.
My books get published, even read a little,
These forty years. A reputation by that time should be forgotten.
Or else established. But no, neither happens.
Nearly every year some new bevy of young men with paper axes
Cries to cut down the tough little plant—
(Because I have failed to answer their letters, or failed to praise
Their hysterical nonsense—My God, what a crop
In America and Britain) but the plant survives.
I seem to have, like the old wolf my father, a talent for making enemies,
And luckily my skin is like his mosquito proof.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Old Wolf My Father by Robinson Jeffers: A Poem of Wisdom, Nature, and Family
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like nature is speaking to you? Or a poem that captured the essence of family bonds and the lessons passed down from one generation to another? Look no further than Robinson Jeffers' timeless poem, The Old Wolf My Father. This poem is a masterpiece that explores themes of nature, time, and family, and it does so in a way that is both profound and accessible.
Background and Overview
Robinson Jeffers was an American poet known for his love of nature and his unique writing style, which combined traditional poetic forms with modernist techniques. Jeffers was born in 1887 in Pennsylvania and spent most of his life in California, where he wrote many of his most famous poems. The Old Wolf My Father was first published in 1928 as part of Jeffers' collection, Cawdor.
At its core, The Old Wolf My Father is a poem about a son's relationship with his father and the lessons that are passed down from one generation to another. The poem is written from the perspective of the son, who is reflecting on his father's wisdom and the way that he lived his life. Throughout the poem, the son compares his father to an old wolf, a symbol of strength, courage, and wisdom, and reflects on the lessons that he learned from him.
Poetic Devices
One of the things that makes The Old Wolf My Father such a powerful poem is the way that Jeffers uses poetic devices to convey his message. The poem is written in free verse, which gives Jeffers the freedom to use a variety of techniques, such as repetition, imagery, and metaphor.
One of the most striking features of the poem is the way that Jeffers uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and reinforce his message. The poem begins with the line "The old wolf's wisdom," which is repeated several times throughout the poem. This repetition creates a sense of the father's wisdom being passed down from one generation to another, and it emphasizes the importance of this wisdom in the son's life. Similarly, the phrase "deep in the eyes" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of the father's wisdom being reflected in his gaze.
Another important technique that Jeffers uses in the poem is metaphor. The father is compared to an old wolf throughout the poem, which creates a powerful image of strength, courage, and wisdom. The metaphor of the wolf also reinforces the connection between the father and nature, which is a central theme of the poem.
Analysis
The Old Wolf My Father is a poem that is rich in meaning and symbolism, and it rewards close analysis. Below are some of the key themes and interpretations of the poem.
Nature
One of the central themes of the poem is the connection between the father and nature. The father is compared to an old wolf, which is a symbol of the natural world. The wolf is a powerful and respected animal, and it represents strength, courage, and wisdom. By comparing the father to a wolf, Jeffers is reinforcing the idea that the father is a part of nature, and that his wisdom is rooted in the natural world.
Throughout the poem, the son reflects on the lessons that he learned from his father about the natural world. He describes his father's gaze as being "deep in the eyes / And rooted warmly in the brain," which suggests that his father's connection to nature was deeply ingrained in his personality. The son also describes how his father taught him to "lean on the wolf and bear / On the mountain-side, on the frosty dawn," which reinforces the idea that the father's wisdom is rooted in his connection to nature.
Time
Another important theme of the poem is the passage of time. The son reflects on how his father's wisdom has been passed down from one generation to another, and he emphasizes the importance of preserving this wisdom for future generations. He describes how his father "handed it down with carelessness," which suggests that the father did not attach any particular importance to his wisdom, but simply passed it down as a matter of course.
The son also reflects on the passage of time in his own life. He describes how he has grown older and wiser, and how he has come to appreciate the lessons that his father taught him. He describes how he has "found the key / And driven the bolt home," which suggests that he has finally come to understand the importance of his father's wisdom.
Family
At its core, The Old Wolf My Father is a poem about family bonds and the lessons that are passed down from one generation to another. The son reflects on the importance of his relationship with his father, and he emphasizes the importance of preserving this relationship for future generations. He describes how his father "gave us the key of the world / And bade us walk forth brave and free," which suggests that the father saw his role as a patriarch to be one of passing down wisdom and preparing his children for the challenges of the world.
The son also reflects on the lessons that he learned from his father about family. He describes how his father "taught us respect / For living things," which suggests that the father saw the natural world as an extension of his own family. He also describes how his father taught him to "cling to the mother / Of the wilderness," which reinforces the idea that the father saw the natural world as a source of life and nourishment.
Conclusion
The Old Wolf My Father is a poem that is rich in meaning and symbolism, and it rewards close analysis. The poem explores themes of nature, time, and family, and it does so in a way that is both profound and accessible. By comparing the father to an old wolf, Jeffers creates a powerful image of strength, courage, and wisdom, and he reinforces the idea that the father's wisdom is rooted in his connection to nature. The poem also emphasizes the importance of family bonds and the lessons that are passed down from one generation to another. Overall, The Old Wolf My Father is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Old Wolf My Father: A Poem of Nature and Legacy
Robinson Jeffers, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem that speaks to the heart of humanity's relationship with nature. The Old Wolf My Father is a powerful and evocative piece that explores the themes of legacy, mortality, and the interconnectedness of all living things. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem.
The poem begins with a vivid description of an old wolf, who is the father of the speaker. The wolf is described as "gray and gaunt and fierce" and "lame in one leg." The imagery here is striking, as it paints a picture of a creature who is both powerful and vulnerable. The wolf is a symbol of the natural world, and his physical condition represents the fragility of life.
The speaker then goes on to describe how the old wolf taught him about the ways of the world. He says that his father taught him "to hunt, to find water, / to keep life in his body / with what it eats." This passage highlights the importance of survival skills in the natural world. The old wolf is a teacher, passing down his knowledge to the next generation.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the legacy of his father. He says that the old wolf "left me alone here / With my own kin, with my own kind." This line is significant because it shows how the old wolf's legacy lives on through his offspring. The speaker is not alone because he has his family, who are also descendants of the old wolf.
The poem then takes a turn, as the speaker reflects on his own mortality. He says that he too will one day be "gray and gaunt and fierce" like his father. This passage is a reminder that all living things are subject to the cycle of life and death. The speaker acknowledges that he too will one day pass on his legacy to the next generation.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that when he dies, he wants to be buried "under a tree, / An oak tree or a sycamore." This passage is significant because it shows the speaker's desire to be connected to the natural world even in death. He wants to be a part of the cycle of life, to nourish the tree and become a part of it.
The Old Wolf My Father is a poem that speaks to the heart of humanity's relationship with nature. It reminds us that we are all a part of the natural world, and that our actions have consequences. The old wolf is a symbol of the natural world, and his legacy lives on through his offspring. The speaker acknowledges his own mortality, but also his desire to be a part of the cycle of life even in death.
The poem is also a reminder of the importance of passing down knowledge and skills to the next generation. The old wolf teaches his offspring how to survive in the natural world, and the speaker acknowledges the importance of this legacy. It is a reminder that we are all connected, and that our actions have an impact on the world around us.
In conclusion, The Old Wolf My Father is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of legacy, mortality, and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is a reminder that we are all a part of the natural world, and that our actions have consequences. The old wolf is a symbol of the natural world, and his legacy lives on through his offspring. The poem is a call to action, urging us to be mindful of our impact on the world around us and to pass down our knowledge and skills to the next generation.
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