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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
In this poem, titled "Pickle Belt," Theodore Roethke portrays the monotony and desire of a teenage boy working at a pickle factory. The opening lines depict the endless stream of fruit rolling by and the workers' preoccupations with pay and rest. However, the focus soon shifts to the boy's experience as he catches the scent of a woman, "she," standing beside him. He is described as "perplexed" by his desire for her, even as he is covered in dust and itching from the work. The contrast between the mundane work and the heightened emotions of the boy is striking. The poem highlights the tension between the physical and emotional worlds, as well as the power of desire to disrupt routine. "Pickle Belt" was published in Roethke's collection of poems, "The Lost Son and Other Poems," in 1948. Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO A JAR OF PICKLES by BAYARD TAYLOR DEDICATION IN THESE DAY by HAYDEN CARRUTH OWEN SEAMAN; ESTABLISHES ENTENE CORDIALE IN MANNER GUY WETMORE CARRYL by LOUIS UNTERMEYER HIS OWNE EPITAPH by FRANCOIS VILLON NOCTURNAL SKETCH; BLANK VERSE IN RHYME by THOMAS HOOD THE FOUNTAIN by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 74. ST. LUKE THE PAINTER (OLD & NEW ART) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI |
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