Monday, April 25, 2005
Lines 19-26
A wonderfully tragic picture is painted in the minds of readers in lines 19-26. Vivid details make it possible for the reader to play the scene out in their mind, just like a movie. The scene in lines 20-22 is gruesome and tragic. Tears must have filled the boy's eyes as he held his hand up, probably at eye level. The boy must have looked at his sister with a terrible sense of desperation, silently yelling help. He had to know that nothing could be done; oh how he must have longed for the childhood he never had in that brief moment. One could easily imagine the look of despair the boy gives in lines 22-25. He was probably relatively calm until line 22 and then experienced a breakdown thereafter. Unfortunately, they boy was so hardened by "doing a man's work' that he had to know his eventual fate.
19 The boy's first outcry was a rueful laugh.
20 As he swung toward them holding up the hand
21 Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
22 The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all -
23 Since he was old enough to know, big boy
24 Doing a man's work, though a child at heart -
25 He saw all was spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off -
26 The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
20 As he swung toward them holding up the hand
21 Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
22 The life from spilling. Then the boy saw all -
23 Since he was old enough to know, big boy
24 Doing a man's work, though a child at heart -
25 He saw all was spoiled. "Don't let him cut my hand off -
26 The doctor, when he comes. Don't let him, sister!"
- posted by Haynes Finney @ 1:33 PM
