TGIPF - August 30, 2013

We are preparing to read Animal Farm, an allegory. To prepare for this kind of literature, we spent the day looking at poems and stories that have a literal meaning, but also a symbolic or metaphoric meaning under the surface for those who know to dig for it. We first read this poem without knowing the title and discussed the literal, visual image. Then I revealed the title, and the fact that "Michiko" refers to the poet's wife, who passed away at age 36. We re-read the poem together, and I was astounded at the depth of meaning students gleaned from the metaphor of the box, representing Gilbert's grief.

Michiko Dead
Jack Gilbert

He manages like somebody carrying a box
that is too heavy, first with his arms
underneath. When their strength gives out,
he moves the hands forward, hooking them
on the corners, pulling the weight against
his chest. He moves his thumbs slightly
when the fingers begin to tire, and it makes
different muscles take over. Afterward,
he carries it on his shoulder, until the blood
drains out of the arm which is stretched up
to steady the box and the arm goes numb. But now
the man can hold underneath again, so that
he can go on without ever putting the box down.