Farm In Pine Island, Minnesota By James Wright: Poem Analysis

It is human nature to forget the passing of time; however, each minute reminds of the most infamous killer and his forever forward-march, one only becoming aware of him when there is no time left. In his poem “Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota” James Wright explores the aspect of how easily one can lose track of time. He creates, at first glance, a warm, peaceful scenery that would be wonderous to view; however, the speaker reveals in a shocking statement, “I have wasted my life” leaving the reader with a sense of astonishment at this self-deprecating slur (13). When rereading the poem knowing that the speaker sees the scene with a sense of dread reimagines what was once previously perceived as tranquil and fulfilling to now becoming full of pain and despair. While it is easy to overlook the speakers use of the directional terms “over”, “right”, and “down”, they are
This term relates to the speakers past and choices he has made to reach this point in time. The speaker reveals to us that in his past he has chosen to follow the crowd and take the easy way out, even if that road is lonely, using the symbols of an “empty house” and “the cowbells follow one another” (7-8). The “empty house” speaks of someone who can make money to provide for a family, but also of a man who works too much to ever have time to start a family (4). The detail that the cowbells go “into the distances of the afternoon” divulges the ugly truth that these men, whom he has followed, all head toward the same common goal, a family and money to provide for said family, however few have ever achieved it (6). The fact that no color is present in his description of the events occurring “down the ravine” tells the reader two things: This is a memory, almost a dream, playing out in black and white, and that this is not a fond memory, it is filled with regret