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Jean Toomer - Reapers

Black reapers with the sound of steel on stones
Are sharpening scythes. I see them place the hones
In their hip-pockets as a thing that's done,
And start their silent swinging, one by one.
Black horses drive a mower through the weeds,
And there, a field rat, startled, squealing bleeds,
His belly close to ground. I see the blade,
Blood-stained, continue cutting weeds and shade.

Added: on March 1st, 2006 at 7:48 PM | Viewed: 3862 times | Comments and analysis of Reapers by Jean Toomer Comments (2)


Reapers - Comments and Information

Poet: Jean Toomer
Poem: Reapers

Comment 2 of 2, added on April 29th, 2007 at 4:10 PM.

In the poem the emphasis is on the blood and the sqealing rat showing that it has to be symbolism then when the reaper just moves on it is really ironic because when you put so much emphasis on the dead rat and the blood and give such graphic detail i would assume that there is a sense of sadness or regret, but the reaper just continues staring at the blood stains without so much of a thought. I think that the Reaper symbolizes ourselves in the darkest form, the mouse is a friend or maybe a close neighbor, and the mower is a hardship or failure. The hardship hits our friends and we stand by and watch, but even though we care about them we never really hurt or feel what they feel.

Natalie from United States
Comment 1 of 2, added on March 1st, 2006 at 7:48 PM.

i think that this poem is a symbol of life. The reapers being an obvious reference to the grim reaper, goes plowing through a field, cutting weeds. Weeds can be viewed as something unneccesary, even unworthy of existence. As the weeds are being cut out, a mouse is accidently killed. The reaper sees the accident, but moves on. This poem exemplifies how life is inevitable but must move along.

kathy o from United States

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