The Ploughman's Gone by Dylan Thomas
This poem explores the theme of loss and longing through the image of a ploughman who has disappeared from his field. The speaker reflects on the significance of this figure's absence, suggesting that it represents a deeper disconnection from nature and the land. The poem delves into the emotional impact of this loss, with the speaker expressing a sense of desolation and isolation. The imagery is rich in symbolism, drawing parallels between the ploughman's departure and the decay of the natural world. Through the use of vivid language and metaphor, the poem conveys a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for a lost era or way of life. The speaker's musings on the ploughman's absence serve as a commentary on the human experience, touching on themes of impermanence and the transience of life.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1946 · Genre: Poetry, Modernist, Pastoral · 409 words
First lines
The ploughman's gone, the hansom driver, Left in the records of the living a not-to-be-broken picture, In sun and rain working for good and gain, Left only the voice in the old village choir
To remember, cast stricture on mechanics and man.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ploughman's Gone is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1946 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1946 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Modernist, Pastoral, Social Commentary
- Length: 409 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as imagery, metaphor, and rhythm.
- Modernist — The themes of industrialization, loss, and the passage of time reflect modernist concerns, with a focus on the impact of technology on traditional ways of life.
- Pastoral — The poem contrasts the rural past with the mechanized present, evoking a nostalgic view of the countryside and traditional labor.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques the effects of industrialization on human life and nature, highlighting the displacement of traditional roles and the alienation caused by technological advancement.
Tags
Poetry · Wales · Rural Life · Agriculture · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Alliteration · Assonance · Enjambment · Free Verse