'The Calf Path' by Sam Walter Foss
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One day thru the primeval wood
A calf walked home, as good calves should;
But made a trail, all bent askew,
A crooked trail, as all calves do.
Since then 300 years have fled,
And I infer the calf is dead.
But still, he left behind his trail
And thereby hangs my mortal tale.
The trail was taken up next day
By a lone dog that passed that way.
And then, a wise bell weathered sheep
Pursued the trail, o'er~vale and steep,
And drew the flocks behind him too
As good bell weathers always do.
And from that day, o'er hill and glade
Thru those old woods, a path was made.
And many men wound in and out,
And dodged, and turned, and bent about,
And uttered words of righteous wrath
Because 'twas such a crooked path,
But still they followed, do not laugh,
The first migrations of that calf.
And thru the winding woods they stalked
Because he wobbled when he walked.
This forest path became a lane
That bent, and turned, and turned again.
This crooked lane became a road
Where many a poor horse with his load
Toiled on beneath the burning sun
And traveled some three miles in one.
And thus a century and a half
They trod the footsteps of that calf.
The years passed on in swiftness fleet,
The road became a village street.
And this, before men were aware,
A city's crowed thoroughfare.
And soon the central street was this
Of a renowned metropolis.
And men, two centuries and a half
Trod the footsteps of that calf.
Each day a 100 thousand route
Followed the zig-zag calf about,
And o'er his crooked journey went
The traffic of a continent.
A 100 thousand men were led
By one calf, near three centuries dead.
They followed still his crooked way
And lost 100 years per day.
For this such reverence is lent
To well establish precedent.
A moral lesson this might teach
Were I ordained , and called to preach.
For men are prone to go it blind
Along the calf paths of the mind,
And work away from sun to sun
To do what other men have done.
They follow in the beaten track,
And out, and in, and forth, and back,
And still their devious course pursue
To keep the paths that others do.
They keep the paths a sacred groove
Along which all their lives they move.
But how the wise old wood gods laugh
Who saw that first primeval calf.
Ah, many things this tale might teach,
But I am not ordained to preach.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Calf Path: A Journey of Life and Purpose
The Calf Path is a timeless and thought-provoking poem written by Sam Walter Foss in the late 19th century. This literary masterpiece has stood the test of time due to its relevance to the human experience and its ability to capture the essence of life's journey. In this literary criticism, I will provide a detailed analysis and interpretation of The Calf Path and explore its themes, symbolism, and imagery.
Overview of The Calf Path
The Calf Path is a narrative poem that tells the story of a calf that strays from the beaten path and creates a new trail. The poem describes how over time, other animals follow the calf and create a new path, which eventually becomes a well-worn road. However, as civilization advances, the road is paved, straightened, and widened, erasing the original path that the calf had created. The poem concludes with the narrator reflecting on the power of habit and the importance of creating one's own path in life.
Themes in The Calf Path
The Calf Path explores several themes that are relevant to the human experience. The most prominent theme is the power of habit and the tendency of humans to follow established paths. The poem shows how the calf's simple act of straying from the beaten path led to the creation of a new trail, which eventually became a road. This highlights how small actions can have significant consequences and how new paths can be created by breaking away from established routines and habits.
Another key theme in The Calf Path is the importance of individuality and the need to create one's own path in life. The poem emphasizes how the original path created by the calf was erased by civilization's progress, highlighting the transient nature of life and the importance of making one's mark on the world. This theme is particularly relevant in today's society, where conformity and following established paths are often valued over individuality and creativity.
Symbolism in The Calf Path
The Calf Path is rich in symbolism, which adds depth and meaning to the poem. The calf symbolizes individuality and the power to create new paths in life. The beaten path symbolizes established routines and habits, which can limit one's potential and lead to a lack of individuality. The road that eventually replaces the calf's path symbolizes progress and civilization, highlighting how the pursuit of progress can often come at the expense of individuality.
The imagery in the poem is also symbolic, with the description of the calf's path as winding and meandering contrasting with the straight, wide road that replaces it. This highlights the natural beauty and unpredictability of individuality, which is lost in the pursuit of progress and conformity.
Interpretation of The Calf Path
The Calf Path is a profound and timeless poem that offers a powerful message about the human experience. The poem encourages readers to break away from established routines and habits, embrace their individuality, and create their own path in life. The poem also warns against the dangers of conformity and the pursuit of progress at the expense of individuality.
As I read the poem, I am struck by how relevant its message is today. In a world where conformity and following established paths are often valued over individuality and creativity, The Calf Path offers a refreshing and inspiring perspective. The poem reminds us that our actions, no matter how small, can have significant consequences and that we have the power to create our own paths in life.
Conclusion
The Calf Path is a literary masterpiece that offers a powerful message about the human experience. The poem encourages readers to break away from established routines and habits, embrace their individuality, and create their own path in life. The poem also warns against the dangers of conformity and the pursuit of progress at the expense of individuality.
I encourage everyone to read The Calf Path and reflect on its message. It is a timeless and thought-provoking poem that offers valuable insights into the human experience and the importance of individuality. As the poem reminds us, "The calf's path was a lesson / That struck to me quite clear, / Useless things are not worth the having, / Let your path be bright and clear."
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Calf Path: A Journey Through Life's Choices
Have you ever found yourself on a path that seemed to lead nowhere? A path that was once created by someone else, but you continued to follow it because it was familiar? Sam Walter Foss's poem, "The Calf Path," takes us on a journey through life's choices and the consequences that come with them.
The poem begins with a description of a calf that wandered through the woods, creating a path as it went. The path was not straight, but rather meandered through the trees, following the calf's whims. Eventually, the calf's path became a well-worn trail that others followed, even after the calf was long gone.
Foss uses this image to illustrate how we often follow paths that were created by others, without questioning whether they are the right paths for us. We become so accustomed to the path that we forget why we started down it in the first place.
The poem then shifts to a description of a town that was built along the calf path. The town's roads and buildings were all constructed to follow the path, even though it was not the most direct route. Foss writes, "Men who made them straighter / Came lamely crawling after."
This line is a powerful reminder that progress is not always linear. Sometimes, the path to success is not a straight line, but rather a winding road that takes us through unexpected twists and turns. It is important to remember that just because a path is well-worn, it does not mean it is the best path for us.
As the poem continues, Foss describes how the town's inhabitants continued to follow the calf path, even when it led them in circles. They were so set in their ways that they could not see the folly of their actions. Foss writes, "And thus the path became a lane, / That bent, and turned, and turned again."
This line is a reminder that sometimes, we need to step back and reevaluate our choices. We need to ask ourselves if the path we are on is leading us where we want to go, or if we are just going in circles. It is important to be open to new ideas and to be willing to change course if necessary.
The poem ends with a powerful message about the importance of forging our own paths. Foss writes, "By force of habit, paths are trod / And where the path was, made a road. / And we, in turn, forget the way / That others trod before."
This final stanza is a reminder that we have the power to create our own paths in life. We do not have to follow in the footsteps of others. We can forge our own way and create a path that is uniquely our own.
In conclusion, "The Calf Path" is a powerful reminder that we should not blindly follow the paths that others have created. We need to be willing to question the status quo and forge our own paths in life. It is important to remember that progress is not always linear and that sometimes, the path to success is a winding road that takes us through unexpected twists and turns. By being open to new ideas and willing to change course if necessary, we can create a path that is uniquely our own.
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