The Second of the Dun Cow Lamentations: A Profound Exploration of Loss and Grieving

The Second Book of the Dun Cow: Lamentations

by Walter Wangerin Jr.

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3263 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	339 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

A.E. Housman's "The Second of the Dun Cow Lamentations" is a poignant and haunting poem that explores the profound depths of loss and the overwhelming grief that follows. Written in the aftermath of the death of Housman's close friend, Moses Jackson, the poem captures the raw emotions of bereavement, painting a vivid tapestry of despair, isolation, and the desperate search for solace.

A Journey of Grief

The poem begins with the speaker's lament, setting the tone for the emotional journey that unfolds. The first stanza establishes the speaker's profound sorrow and sense of loss:

"Far in a western brookland That bred me long ago The poplars stand and tremble By pools I used to know.

Through imagery of nature, Housman evokes a sense of the speaker's connection to the past and the memories that now haunt them. The trembling poplars and the still pools echo the speaker's own emotional state, shaken and haunted by the absence of their loved one.

"There in the windless night-time The wanderer, lost and cold, Watches the taper burning In windows long foretold.

This stanza introduces the theme of isolation and loneliness that accompanies grief. The speaker is depicted as a wanderer, lost and alone, yearning for a beacon of hope and comfort. The burning taper in the distant window represents a glimmer of solace, yet it remains elusive and tantalizingly out of reach.

"Far in a western brookland That bred me long ago The poplars stand and tremble By pools I used to know.

The repetition of the opening stanza serves as a haunting refrain, reinforcing the speaker's persistent grief and the sense of displacement they feel. The memories of the past, once a source of joy, now become a constant reminder of the irrevocable loss.

Seeking Solace in Nature

Throughout the poem, Housman employs nature as a powerful symbol of both comfort and despair. The brookland and the poplars evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing, while the windless night and the cold underscore the speaker's isolation and vulnerability.

"The plashing rain will change thee, The maiden will not know The hair that now she fondles An hour hence must go.

Nature's transformative power is presented as both a source of solace and a poignant reminder of the transience of life. The plashing rain, a symbol of renewal, offers a glimmer of hope, but it is quickly overshadowed by the inevitability of change and loss.

"The apples on the bough-ends Will ripen too, and fall."

The falling apples serve as a metaphor for the passing of time and the inevitable decay that accompanies it. The speaker's sorrow is compounded by the realization that even the beauty and abundance of nature cannot escape the relentless march of time.

The Search for Meaning

As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with questions of meaning and purpose in the face of loss. They seek solace in the natural world, but find only fleeting moments of respite.

"And still the hapless fatling She calls to her across the dew-drenched lawn. Then hey! for earth and heaven And the one half-hour that comes between the dawn And doom, when she alone Is mistress of the fields."

The imagery of the fatling and the dew-drenched lawn evokes a sense of idyllic beauty, but it is quickly juxtaposed with the inevitability of doom. The one half-hour of respite is a fleeting moment of joy amidst the overwhelming sorrow.

"And I will go and with old ghosts Keep festival, where there are none To mourn for me or bless me."

The Second Book of the Dun Cow: Lamentations

by Walter Wangerin Jr.

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3263 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	339 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE