Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Geoffrey Hill's "Locust Songs: Good Husbandry" delves into the interplay between human effort, pride, and the divine, painting a vivid picture of the consequences of indulgence and pride. Through rich imagery and symbolic language, Hill explores the themes of sin, divine retribution, and the paradox of human labor.

The poem begins with the line "Out of the foliage of sensual pride / Those teeming apples," setting a tone of abundance born from pride. The "foliage of sensual pride" suggests that the lushness and productivity of the apples are rooted in human pride and sensuality. This image evokes the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, where the forbidden fruit symbolizes human transgression and the original sin of pride.

Hill continues with "Summer burned well / The dramatic flesh; made work for pride," which highlights the intense growth and ripening of the apples under the summer sun. The "dramatic flesh" of the apples can be seen as a metaphor for the culmination of human effort and sensuality, suggesting that this ripening is both a natural and a dramatic process. The phrase "made work for pride" indicates that this bountiful harvest is a direct result of human pride, implicating it in the process of creation and growth.

The next lines, "Forking into the tender mouths of Hell / Heaped windfalls, pulp for the Gadarene / Squealers," introduce a darker twist. The imagery of "forking into the tender mouths of Hell" suggests that the fruit of human pride ultimately feeds the fires of Hell, a place of torment and punishment. The "heaped windfalls" imply that the excess and waste of this prideful productivity are destined for damnation. The reference to the "Gadarene Squealers" alludes to the biblical story of the Gadarene swine, which were possessed by demons and driven into the sea. This connection underscores the destructive consequences of pride and indulgence.

Hill then asserts, "This must be our reward: / To smell God writhing over the rich scene." Here, the poet presents a paradoxical reward: witnessing the divine's discomfort or judgment over the excess and pride that humans have cultivated. The idea of "smelling God writhing" evokes a sensory and visceral image of divine displeasure, suggesting that the divine is intimately aware of human sin and pride.

The final line, "Gluttons for wrath, we stomach our reward," encapsulates the poem's central theme. Humans, described as "gluttons for wrath," are portrayed as consuming or enduring the consequences of their actions. The use of "stomach" implies both enduring and internalizing the repercussions of their prideful behavior.

In summary, "Locust Songs: Good Husbandry" explores the intricate relationship between human pride, labor, and divine retribution. Geoffrey Hill uses rich, biblical imagery to convey the idea that human sensuality and pride inevitably lead to excess and sin, which in turn elicit divine judgment. The poem serves as a reflection on the consequences of human actions and the inescapable nature of divine justice, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of human labor and the eternal vigilance of the divine.

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