Storm: at the Farm Window

Name: Storm: at the Farm Window
Author: Robert Graves

The poem captures a tumultuous storm's impact on a rural farm, illustrating the chaos and destruction wrought by nature. It opens with a sense of discomfort and tension, as the speaker describes the oppressive atmosphere and the restlessness of the environment. The imagery of the "unruly member" suggests a physical or emotional disturbance, while the "sullen" pastures and "grief" hanging over the steading evoke a sense of foreboding. As the storm approaches, the scene shifts to the animals and workers on the farm. The cows seek refuge from the heat, and Jess, a farm worker, pauses her labor, indicating a disruption in the daily routine. The arrival of the hurricane is marked by violent imagery, with "lightning in steep pitchfork jags" and the landscape transformed by torrential rain. The storm's ferocity is palpable, as it threatens both the natural and human elements of the farm. The poem conveys a duality of wonder and panic, reflecting the awe-inspiring yet terrifying power of the storm. The chaos disrupts the lives of man and beast alike, as they struggle against the overwhelming force of nature. The final lines emphasize the collective shock experienced by all, as the floodwaters rise and the familiar landscape becomes unrecognizable. Overall, the work explores themes of vulnerability, the unpredictability of nature, and the interconnectedness of life on the farm, highlighting how external forces can disrupt the delicate balance of rural existence. The vivid imagery and emotional resonance create a powerful depiction of a storm's transformative impact.

By Robert Graves · First published 1940 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Literary Fiction · 189 words

First lines

The unruly member (for relief Of aching head) clacks without care; Pastures lie sullen; hung with grief The steading: thunder binds the air.

Gulls on the blue sea-surface rock: The cows move lowing to scant shade; Jess lays aside the half-worked smock, Dan, in his ditch, lets fall the spade.

Now swoops the outrageous hurricane With lightning in steep pitchfork jags; The blanched hill leaps in sheeted rain, Sea masses white to assault the crags.

Such menace tottering overhead, Old Jess for ague scolds no more; She sees grey bobtail flung down dead Lightning-blazed by the barn door --

What this Textopian page supports

Storm: at the Farm Window is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Graves, dated 1940 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Robert Graves
Date: 1940 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Literary Fiction, Romanticism, Modernism
Length: 189 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes a storm and its impact on the farm environment, emphasizing the relationship between nature and human experience.
Literary Fiction — The themes of human struggle against nature and emotional depth align with literary fiction's focus on character and thematic exploration.
Romanticism — The poem reflects elements of Romanticism through its emotional intensity and appreciation of nature's power.