Original Poem：
Ruminant pillows! Gregarious soft boulders!
If one of you found a gap in a stone wall,
the rest of you—rams, ewes, bucks, wethers, lambs;
mothers and daughters, old grandfather-father,
cousins and aunts, small bleating sons—
followed onward, stupid
as sheep, wherever
your leader’s sheep-brain wandered to.
My grandfather spent all day searching the valley
and edges of Ragged Mountain,
calling “Ke-
day!
” as if he brought you salt,
“Ke-
day!
Ke-
day!”
??????????????????*
When the shirt wore out, and darns in the woolen
shirt needed darning,
a woman in a white collar
cut the shirt into strips and braided it,
as she braided her hair every morning.
In a hundred years
the knees of her great-granddaughter
crawled on a rug made from the wool of sheep
whose bones were mud,
like the bones of the woman, who stares
from an oval in the parlor.
??????????????????*
I forked the brambly hay down to you
in nineteen-fifty. I delved my hands deep
in the winter grass of your hair.
When the shearer cut to your nakedness in April
and you dropped black eyes in shame,
hiding in barnyard corners, unable to hide,
I brought grain to raise your spirits,
and ten thousand years
wound us through pasture and hayfield together,
threads of us woven
together, three hundred generations
from Africa’s hills to New Hampshire’s.
??????????????????*
You were not shrewd like the pig.
You were not strong like the horse.
You were not brave like the rooster.
Yet none of the others looked like a lump of granite
that grew hair,
and none of the others
carried white fleece as soft as dandelion seed
around a black face,
and none of them sang such a flat and sociable song.
??????????????????*
Now the black-faced sheep have wandered and will not return,
even if I should search the valleys
and call “Ke-
day
,” as if I brought them salt.
Now the railroad draws
a line of rust through the valley. Birch, pine, and maple
lean from cellarholes
and cover the dead pastures of Ragged Mountain
except where machines make snow
and cables pull money up hill, to slide back down.
??????????????????*
At South Danbury Church twelve of us sit—
cousins and aunts, sons—
where the great-grandfathers of the forty-acre farms
filled every pew.
I look out the window at summer places,
at Boston lawyers’ houses
with swimming pools cunningly added to cowsheds,
and we read an old poem aloud, about Israel’s sheep,
old lumps of wool, and we read
that the rich farmer, though he names his farm for himself,
takes nothing into his grave;
that even if people praise us, because we are successful,
we will go under the ground
to meet our ancestors collected there in the darkness;
that we are all of us sheep, and death is our shepherd,
and we die as the animals die.
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This poem is a vivid and poignant reflection on the relationship between humans and sheep, blending personal memory, rural life, and broader themes of heritage, mortality, and change. The poet uses sheep as a central metaphor to explore ideas of community, tradition, and the passage of time.
The poem begins by describing sheep as "ruminant pillows" and "gregarious soft boulders," emphasizing their physical presence and social nature. The imagery of sheep following each other mindlessly "as sheep" highlights their instinctive behavior and the poet’s affectionate yet critical observation of their simplicity. The repeated calling of “Ke-day!” by the grandfather evokes a deep connection between the family and the land, a call that once brought the sheep but now echoes as a memory.
The second stanza shifts focus to the transformation of sheep wool into everyday objects, such as a woolen shirt and later a rug. This symbolizes the continuity of life and labor through generations, connecting the past to the present. The mention of the woman in a white collar braiding strips of wool as she braids her hair suggests the intertwining of domestic life and tradition.
In the third stanza, the poet recalls personal experiences of caring for the sheep, highlighting the intimate bond between humans and animals. The reference to "ten thousand years" and "three hundred generations" connects this relationship to a deep historical and evolutionary past, from Africa to New Hampshire, underscoring the shared journey of humans and sheep through time.
The poem contrasts sheep with other farm animals, noting that sheep lack the pig’s shrewdness, the horse’s strength, and the rooster’s bravery. Yet, sheep are unique in their appearance and gentle nature, described as "a lump of granite that grew hair" with "white fleece as soft as dandelion seed." Their "flat and sociable song" reflects their communal spirit.
The poem then laments the disappearance of the black-faced sheep from the valley, symbolizing the loss of rural traditions and the encroachment of modernity, represented by the railroad and machines. The landscape changes, and the old ways fade away.
Finally, the poem ends in a church setting where family members gather, reading an old poem about sheep and reflecting on mortality. The rich farmer’s legacy is questioned, reminding readers that material success is temporary, and death is the ultimate shepherd guiding all beings, human and animal alike.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem likely emerges from a rural or pastoral context, where sheep farming was a significant part of life and culture. The author’s intimate knowledge of sheep and farming life suggests a personal or familial connection to agriculture and the land. The poem’s tone and themes resonate with those who have witnessed the transformation of rural communities and the fading of traditional lifestyles.
The author is someone who deeply values the continuity between past and present, family and nature, and the simple yet profound rhythms of rural life. Through this poem, the author honors ancestors, memories, and the natural world while acknowledging inevitable change and loss.
Reflections and Insights
Reading this poem invites us to appreciate the quiet dignity of rural life and the bonds between humans and animals. It encourages reflection on how traditions are passed down and how modern developments can disrupt these connections. The poem also serves as a meditation on mortality, reminding us that all living beings share a common fate.
The imagery and language evoke both nostalgia and realism, blending affection with a sober awareness of change. The poem’s structure, with its repeated calls and vivid scenes, creates a rhythm that mirrors the cycles of life and nature.
Educational Value and Learning Points for Children and Students
This poem offers rich material for students to explore several important themes and skills:
- Literary Devices: Students can learn about metaphor, imagery, repetition, and symbolism through the poem’s descriptions of sheep and rural life.
- Historical and Cultural Context: The poem provides insight into traditional farming life and how it has evolved, helping students understand cultural heritage.
- Themes of Community and Family: The poem highlights the importance of family bonds and communal living, encouraging students to reflect on their own relationships.
- Reflection on Mortality: The poem introduces the concept of death in a gentle, natural way, fostering conversations about life cycles and respect for all living things.
- Environmental Awareness: The contrast between natural landscapes and industrial changes prompts discussions about conservation and the impact of modernization.
Practical Applications and Life Lessons
- Empathy and Respect: Students learn to appreciate animals as living beings with their own roles and significance.
- Connection to Nature: Encourages outdoor observation and understanding of ecosystems, farming, and sustainability.
- Cultural Preservation: Inspires interest in family history and traditions, promoting respect for heritage.
- Literary Appreciation: Enhances skills in poetry analysis and creative expression.
- Critical Thinking: Students can discuss the effects of progress on communities and environments.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What metaphor does the poet use to describe the sheep at the beginning of the poem?
- How does the poem illustrate the connection between the family and the sheep?
- What does the repeated call of “Ke-day!” symbolize in the poem?
- How does the poem describe the transformation of wool over generations?
- What historical and evolutionary connection does the poet mention between humans and sheep?
- How are sheep contrasted with other farm animals in the poem?
- What changes in the valley are described, and what do they represent?
- What message does the poem convey about material success and mortality?
- How does the poem use the setting of the church to reinforce its themes?
- What lessons can readers learn about tradition and change from this poem?
Answer Key
- The poet uses metaphors like "ruminant pillows" and "gregarious soft boulders" to describe the sheep.
- The poem shows the family’s care and daily interaction with the sheep, especially through the grandfather’s calls and the narrator’s feeding and tending.
- “Ke-day!” symbolizes the call to gather the sheep, representing connection, care, and tradition.
- Wool is transformed from a worn shirt into braided strips and eventually into a rug, showing continuity and the passing down of family labor.
- The poet mentions "ten thousand years" and "three hundred generations," linking humans and sheep from Africa to New Hampshire.
- Sheep are described as less shrewd, strong, or brave than pigs, horses, or roosters but unique in their appearance and gentle nature.
- The valley changes with the arrival of the railroad and machines, symbolizing modernization and the loss of traditional rural life.
- The poem suggests that material success is temporary and that death is the ultimate equalizer for all.
- The church setting brings family together to reflect on heritage and mortality, reinforcing themes of community and the cycle of life.
- Readers learn about the importance of honoring tradition while recognizing inevitable change and the value of life’s simple, enduring connections.
