D’sa 1

Shane D’sa

Mr. Damaso

Honors English II, Period 7

3 May 2010

Speaking for the Overlooked

"As labor creates the wealth of the country, we demand the passage of such laws as may be

necessary to protect it in all its rights."

-John Peter Altgeld

Sweat dripping down a worker’s head. While working at 18 cents per hour and 50-55

hour work weeks, the worker spends time in a hot and dirty factory (Glass Factory Jobs 1). This

is a stark reality when he works in a glass factory in the early 20th century (Glass Factory Jobs 1).

Workers received little rights when it came to labor in factories. James Wright utilizes natural

imagery to describe the progress made in the United States of America’s labor rights movement.

Wright lived a life where he understood the meaning of the labor rights movement. He

was born on December 13, 1927 in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio ("The Biography of James Wright" 1).

Over the course of his life he wrote four books of poetry. His third book The Branch Will Not

Break, special because it lacks meter and rhyme but employs the use of deep images ("The

Biography of James Wright" 1). He worked with Martin Bly translating South American and

German poetry and is hailed as one of the contemporary poets of 20th century. ("The Biography

of James Wright" 1). His three most famous poems, “A Blessing,” “Lying in a Hammock at

William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota,” and “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio”

are all connected by their description of the labor rights movement.

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Wright’s life was full gave him insight into his poetry. His father worked in a glass

factory and mother in a laundry (“James Wright Biography” 1). In high school he experienced a

nervous breakdown and had to graduate a year later (“James Wright Biography” 1). He joined

the army in 1946, after graduating from high school (“James Wright Biography” 1). After

returning from service he attended college at Kenyon College (“James Wright Biography” 1). In

1953, he moved to Vienna to study at University of Vienna with his wife (“James Wright

Biography” 1). When Wright wrote his poetry, he considered himself a craftsman (“James

Wright” 3). He died on March 25, 1980 ("The Biography of James Wright" 1). Wright lived a

life that helped form him to be the person that wrote his famous poems.

Wright’s writing in The Branch Will Not Break was very revolutionary compared to his

previous works. He had no recognizable meter or rhyme. His stanzas length also varied in length

while Wright delved into new technique of deep images, which focused on the inner meanings of

a poem. He focused especially on the belief of the human spirit, human rights issues, and inner

beauty. His father worked in a glass factory and mother in a laundry. In high school he

experienced a nervous breakdown and had to graduate a year later (“James Wright Biography”

1). His father working in a glass factory, mother in a laundry, and experiencing a nervous

breakdown in high school all helped affect Wright’s poetry (“James Wright Biography” 1).

Wright’s writing in The Branch Will Not Break was not only affected by his life but what was

happening during his lifetime.

James Wright lived through many events during his lifetime, namely World War II, the

Civil Rights movement, and Cold War. During World War II, Wright lived through the

importance of the trade unions and workers rights. During World War II while America was at

war and was mobilized for war, trade unions formed and were spurned by countries fearing
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revolution (“Organized Labor” 1). They did this to compromise with the workers as a measure to

eliminate socialism and communism spreading (“Organized Labor” 1). During his time, Wright

also lived through the Civil Rights Movement. The struggle for African American civil rights

spanned during the 1960s. People like Martin Luther King Junior’s “I have a dream” speech and

Rosa Park’s buss incident both captivated the country ("Civil Rights Movement Timeline" 1).

These two major events both helped shape Wright’s poetry and life.

Wright’s life and historical events happening during his life all helped him in writing his

poems. James Wright in his book The Branch Will Not Break uses natural imagery to describe

the social progress of human rights over the course of America’s history. James Wright’s father

working in the glass factory and mother in a laundry gave him insight into lack of proper

working conditions in factories. He would have firsthand knowledge of a life where a parent

earns a minimal wage and works long hours. James Wright living during the Civil Rights

Movement would have showed him the lack of civil rights and human rights the African

American population experience. He also lived during World War II where trade unions

advocated the increase in labor rights. All of these events and experiences helped Wright write

his poems.

The three most famous poems in Wright’s The Branch Will Not Break all discuss the

labor rights movement. It is about two men who enter a pasture where they encounter two horses.

Throughout the poem the narrator describes the beauty of these poems. The narrator seems even

to envy the beauty of these animals at one point. “Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm

in Pine Island, Minnesota” is about a man whom reclines in a hammock and describes the setting

around him. He sees abnormal sights, and narrator throughout the poem sees the world around

him and recognizes how his life has turned out. “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” is
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about the setting of a human town in Martins Ferry, Ohio. The narrator starts about describing a

scene in a football stadium and transitions to talk about the people working throughout the town.

In the second stanza, Wright talks about fathers ashamed to come home and towards the end

about boys running against each other. These three poems outline the history of the labor rights

movement.

“Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota” describes

how workers are manipulated. The poem underlines the struggles of America’s working class and

describes it as a “daily grind of their lives as what they have been handed by American society

and the political agendas that keep the status quo intact” (“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry,

Ohio” 6). The manipulated animals like the butterfly and cows show how society has

manipulated people to conform to their ideas. The butterfly, or workers, being on a black trunk,

factory, alludes to the fact that workers work in substandard factories. The adjective black, paints

the picture of dark and gloomy. The cowbells, or workers, walk in a straight line. This paints the

image of cows walking in a straight line, when in reality cows move aimlessly and in no specific

direction. This is about how workers are limited to do what they want and are treated like

animals. The image of the poop of horses blazing up, paints an image of hardened droppings.

The horses can be alluded to workers, and their droppings alludes to their toils. The droppings

hardening are significant in that the toils of the workers go unnoticed.

“A Blessing” correlates very well to describe Wright’s theme of labor rights in that it

describes the creation of labor rights. The narrator describes the wealthy factory owners as

“people are always passing by without truly connecting to the place” (“A Blessing” 5). The

horses, or workers, are ready to be accepted and given rights. They are overjoyed by the fact that

these men take time out of their time to see what the “horses” go through. The fact that the
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“ponies” are happy that the men have entered the pasture is alluding to the fact that they are

happy to be loved and accepted in line nine. In line 22, the man caresses the pony and he shows

love and apology for all actions. The narrator recognizes that the “visitors” cannot fully

recognize the beauty of these ponies. The images in line 18, describes one pony as “black and

white,” this puts the image of an African American male in the reader’s head. Line thirty’s

imagery leads the reader to imagine the pony as almost human. The men now realize the horse is

human. The narrator realizes that he must do what it takes to correct the situation, even if it

means backlash from his colleagues.

“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” describes how a new generation will solve the

labor rights’ problems. “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” describes line two as a

“distasteful euphemism is not so much an ethnic slur as a recognition of the plight of so many

immigrants who came to America” (“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” 3). In line 6,

“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” describes it a “quick juxtaposition is indicative of the

dual roles that Wright believes most of America’s working class has been forced to play. On the

outside, the men are nearly beaten down by poverty, frustration, and a hopeless future. On the

inside, they take pride in the strength and endurance of their sons who fight so bravely on the

field” (“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” 3). The imagery of line two: “I think of Polacks

nursing long beers in Tiltsonville” describes how minorities work in hard labor jobs. In line six,

the imagery of fathers ashamed to coming home is very powerful. The meaning of this is that the

fathers are ashamed because they work for long hours but bring home very little money. They

are sad that they cannot provide for their families because their work in the factory does not pay

them well. In line eleven, the fact that the boys grow in October, paints the image of crops. Crops

are harvested in the fall, and these boys are the same. They are given all the sufficient knowledge
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of life, and grow to be beautiful. The next line’s imagery leads the reader to believe that these

boys then “gallop” off to create change, because they run away from their home, which is full of

problems. This poem describes how a new generation is made that solves the problems of the

previous generation. The “sons” help give their “fathers” labor rights at the factories. The

imagery to describe the labor rights movement in America is portrayed in this poem.

The struggle of labor right can be translated into the entertainment industry. “Blood

Diamond” describes how in Sierra Leone people are enslaved by their own are forced to work in

diamond mines. The movie depicts how the Revolutionary United Front takes its people as

slaves to mine diamonds and these diamonds are used to fund their war. Edward Zwick, the

director, portrays the life of a Sierra Leone fisherman, Solomon Vandy, who finds a precious

pink diamond and fights to help free his family. Throughout Sierra Leone, peoples’ rights are

ignored, while many are killed brutally or killed. Edward Zwick is known for heroic and

emotional movies (Edelstein 1). “Blood Diamond” especially has to do with labor rights.

“Blood Diamond” depicts the struggle to end a futile war and the evil trade of blood

diamonds. The diamond mines depicted are one where children and men of all ages are forced to

work in these mines. These people are worthless to the RUF soldiers, and are killed out of sport

sometime. The enslaved people are treated very badly. David Denby describes natural resource

discovery in Africa as “every time a valuable natural resource has been discovered in Africa—

whether it’s ivory, gold, or diamonds—white Europeans have hired surrogates to plunder the

good” (Denby 2). As a result of this discovery, people’s rights are thrown out the window, and the

only point on the mind of the “Europeans” is monetary gain at any cost. The struggle for

independence and basic recognition of human rights is similar to James Wright’s description of

social progress of labor rights over the course of America’s history.

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“Imagine” by John Lennon also discusses the progress of labor rights. John Lennon was

part of the Beatles and after the band broke up sang his own music where he also preached peace

("Imagine by John Lennon Songfacts" 1). “Imagine” is about a world where there are no

differences. There are no countries or anything that stands in the way of a united world. It was

written in 1975 ("Imagine by John Lennon Songfacts" 1). “Imagine” does a perfect job of

describing a society where people are respected and have the proper labor rights.

Lennon wants a world where everyone is equal when it comes to human rights in

general. He wants a world where everyone is respected and rights are acknowledged ("Imagine

by John Lennon Songfacts" 1). He wants a utopia where everyone is cared for, and no one is

overlooked in society. In stanza two line six, Lennon sings “Living life in peace,” and in stanza

three line three he also sings “No need for greed or hunger.” John Lenin preaches the progression

of human rights and the world in general. Lennon imagines a world where people are properly

paid and there is no friction when it comes to working condition. He also thinks of a future

where all are at peace because they work in proper working conditions. Lennon wants to have a

world full of love, and the end product is the same that James Wright wants.

James Wright in his book The Branch Will Not Break uses natural imagery to describe

the progress of human rights over the course of America’s history. Over time the plight of

laborers and workers are seen, and they received their due rights to work in safe and proper

paying places. No matter in history, the recognition of human rights is necessary to value every

human being no matter their religion, ethnicity, or political standing.

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Appendix A

“Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota” James Wright, 1963
 Over my head, I see the bronze butterfly,

Asleep on the black trunk,

blowing like a leaf in green shadow.

Down the ravine behind the empty house,

5 The cowbells follow one another

Into the distances of the afternoon.

To my right,

In a field of sunlight between two pines,

The droppings of last year's horses

10 Blaze up into golden stones.

I lean back, as the evening darkens and comes on.

A chicken hawk floats over, looking for home.

I have wasted my life.

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Appendix B

“A Blessing “ James Wright, 1963

 Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,

Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.

And the eyes of those two Indian ponies

Darken with kindness.

5 They have come gladly out of the willows

To welcome my friend and me.

We step over the barbed wire into the pasture

Where they have been grazing all day, alone.

They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness

10 That we have come.

They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.

There is no loneliness like theirs.

At home once more, they begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.

I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,

15 For she has walked over to me

And nuzzled my left hand.

She is black and white,

Her mane falls wild on her forehead,

And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear

20 That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.

Suddenly I realize

That if I stepped out of my body I would break

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Into blossom.
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Appendix C

“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” James Wright, 1963

 In the Shreve High football stadium,

I think of Polacks nursing long beers in Tiltonsville,

And gray faces of Negroes in the blast furnace at Benwood,

And the ruptured night watchman of Wheeling Steel,

5 Dreaming of heroes.

All the proud fathers are ashamed to go home.

Their women cluck like starved pullets,

Dying for love.

Therefore,

10 Their sons grow suicidally beautiful

At the beginning of October,

And gallop terribly against each other's bodies.

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Appendix D
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Appendix E
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Appendix F

“Blood Diamond” Directed by Edward Zwick, 2006

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Appendix G

Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II (1969)

Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way.

Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay.

But now it's time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.

For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way.

Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I've got one thing I got to do...

*Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.

I'm goin' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.

I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,

Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Got no time to for spreadin' roots, The time has come to be gone.

And to' our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to Ramble On.

* Chorus

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.

How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air.

T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.

But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.
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* Chorus

Gonna ramble on, sing my song. Gotta keep-a-searchin' for my baby...

Gonna work my way, round the world. I can't stop this feelin' in my heart

Gotta keep searchin' for my baby. I can't find my bluebird!

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Appendix H

“Milkweed” by James Wright, 1963

While I stood here, in the open, lost in myself,

I must have looked a long time

Down the corn rows, beyond grass,

The small house,

White walls, animals lumbering toward the barn.

I look down now. It is all changed.

Whatever it was I lost, whatever I wept for

Was a wild, gentle thing, the small dark eyes

Loving me in secret.

It is here. At a touch of my hand,

The air fills with delicate creatures

From the other world.

“Knowledge” by Shane D’sa

After James Wright

As I walk about, among expansive worlds,

Trying to make sense of life.

Toward the exhibit I walked,

Down the halls, past the rooms filled with old artifacts
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The last exhibit.

Eyes fill the room, minds gaze at the item.

My life I have lived, the years without rest,

And yet I stand before it all.

The epitome of my life, but so small, jagged, and dynamic.

It is within my grasp, almost within my fingers.

The air tenses,

It is gone.
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