Norman MacCaig

Summer Farm

The Author

Norman MacCaig was born in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, in 1910

He spent much of his life in this and other Scottish cities until his death in 1996.

His mother’s family, however, came from quiet rural parts of the country, and this background is reflected in ‘Summer Farm’

the locality of the bulk of his poetry is divided between two Scottish locations. His home city of Edinburgh provided contrast with his holiday home of Assynt, a remote area in the North-West of Scotland where MacCaig spent much time, especially in the summer months.

The landscape and people of Assynt provided inspiration for his poetry as well as bringing MacCaig close friendships and a love for the land.

Summer Farm (Stanzas 1 & 2)

Straws like tame lightnings lie about the grassAnd hang zigzag on hedges. Green as glassThe water in the horse-trough shines.Nine ducks go wobbling by in two straight lines.

A hen stares at nothing with one eye,Then picks it up. Out of an empty skyA swallow falls and, flickering throughThe barn, dives up again into the dizzy blue.

(Stanza 3 & 4)

I lie, not thinking, in the cool, soft grass,Afraid of where a thought might take me –This grasshopper with plated faceUnfolds his legs and finds himself in space.

Self under self, a pile of selves I standThreaded on time, and with metaphysic handLift the farm like a lid and seeFarm within farm, and in the centre, me.

Metaphysics Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any

particular science. It is concerned with explaining the ultimate nature of being and the world

It relates to questions that cannot be answered in factual terms. i.e. science may tell us how the

universe works, but why it exists is a metaphysical question.

Consciousness of your own being - which can be burdensome, frightening, confusing

Putting things in perspective – from being self-centred to being a tiny part of something vast/expansive/complex

Analysis - Stanza 1 Line 1- 2: oxymoron: not only is the farm described; it depicts the

series of contrasts that plague McCaig’s mind.  Straws exude an aura of domesticity, nature and comfort, but at the same time are as dangerous as lightning. his thoughts which move abruptly and not smoothly like zigzags.   They are tame because he decision he must make is not dangerous but at the same time can affect his life forever (they sear through his heart like lightning.   The position of hanging is uncertain and not stable, reflecting his thoughts.  

Line 2-3: oxymoron - Water is typically seen as shiny and glassy but here it is also countered by the murky green, reflecting the uncertainty of his future.  uncertain of the consequences of selling his farm or maintaining it.

Line 4: Symbolism: Nine = odd number, signifying disharmony; ducks wobble in “two straight lines,” = an impossible task.  This reflects the conflicting sides of a situation when it can be seen in two opposing ways Despite his ability to see both sides of the question, his mind wobbles like the ducks in indecision.

Analysis - Stanza 2 Line 5-6: This is literally impossible. But it looks with “one

eye” instead of none or two. This signifies a one-sided view of things. Nothing makes sense. Still, he gropes around for inspiration out of the nothingness. He picks up a thought without analyzing deeply.

Line 6-8: Metaphor “an empty sky” =symbol of nothingness,

Paradox: “A swallow falls … dives up again” It comes down in search for food (symbol for inspiration and substance) but finding nothing, returns to the “dizzy” uncertainty. The colour blue exudes calmness. The setting, the barn, is an enclosed room, representing a mind closed to inspiration

Analysis – Stanza 3

Line 10: ‘I’ persona - He tries not to think because he is “afraid of where a thought might take me.” He is afraid because such thoughts can be heavy/daunting/unproductive; he is afraid of the burden of philosophical indulgence – contemplating existing can be depressing

Line 11-12: Analogy - grasshopper with plated face, unfolding his legs = face is rigid, no expression, wants to keep things straight/simple; unfolding his mind might propel him into nothingness. What he fears is that like the grasshopper that jumps, he will tread into the unknown, symbolized by empty space. There is none of the stability of the ground (which symbolises the known, mundane/everyday life)

Analysis – Stanza 4states his conclusion/epiphany: Line 13: repetition “a pile of selves,” “self under self.” This

alludes to his ancestors who had managed the farm. Line 14-16: Metaphor: “threaded on time.” - he is the

descendent of a line of farm-owners, he explains that “with metaphysic hand/Lift the farm like a lid and see/ Farm within farm, and in the centre, me.” (Russian-doll-structure, he’s trapped in the layers)

Metaphorically and philosophically, he tries to detach himself and see the farm from a distant perspective, but: farm = his identity, connected to it and its past, he belongs there and makes him him

Summer Farm I persona is contemplating his identity:

farm serves as analogy but also as a grounded root for his identity

Tone: philosophical, uncertain, nostalgic, contemplating

Style and form: Rhyme scheme AABB for 4 stanzas. It is regular. The language used is metaphysical, that is to say, philosophical and associating the poet’s thoughts with nature. It is highly symbolic. McCaig was known as a metaphysical poet.

QUESTIONS

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