Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Oxen

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek and mild creatures where
They dwelt i ntheir strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few wouild weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel

"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

This poem is about a man reflecting on his innocent childhood and belief in "The Christmas Story" as taught by the elders. He then acknowledges he no longer believes this and it is not common in "these days." He goes on to confess he would go to a stable scene if someone invited him, but he would go in disbelief though he wishes he could believe. Within this poem, two tones are extremely evident. Originally when talking about his childhood, Hardy has a pensive/ reverant tone. He is looking back on his past wistfully. His imagery such as "embers in the hearthside ease" portray a wistful tone as he exaggerates the "fairytale perfection" of those times. The "meek mild creatures" description further establishes this reflective and contemplative tone. However, in line 9 at "So fair a fancy few would weave in these years!" the tone drastically changes. The fact, this is on the only time an exclamation is made shows the significant transition. Before merely reflecting on his past, he now satirically mocks our society in his outburst of passion. He asknowledges people no longer believe in this yet they still stupidly cling to this "ideal stable Christmas scene." After his exclamation, his tone returns to one of pensiveness. While before it was more "happy" rememberance, now it is lacking hope and is "in the gloom" so it shifts to a more sorrowful pensiveness, yet returns to his original calm and peaceful demeanor.