“As I Lay Dying” (1930), by William Faulker

Jewel and I come up from the field, following the path in single file.

“come up” → go down to the field

single file = one person directly behind the next person

Although I am fifteen feet ahead of him, anyone watching us from the cottonhouse can see
Jewel's frayed and broken straw hat a full head above my own.

cotton = fluffy stuff to make clothes

frayed = robek
straw = dry grass
a full head above = about 1ft. taller

anyone can (see) Jewel’s (frayed and broken straw) hat

subject verb object

The path runs straight as a plumb-line, worn smooth by feet and baked brick-hard by July,
between the green rows of laid-by cotton, to the cottonhouse in the center of the field, where it
turns and circles the cottonhouse at four soft right angles and goes on across the field again, worn
so by feet in fading precision.

The path runs (straight as a plumb-line)

subject verb

wear = pakai
wear = to use until broken
worn smooth = made smooth
brick = batu for building
laid-by cotton = cotton plants laid at the side of the path
right angle = 90 degree angle
fading precision = not perfect
so = “that way”

plumb = very straight

taut = tight and straight
plumb-line = a very tight, straight string used to measure space
The cottonhouse is of rough logs, from between which the chinking has long fallen.

the cottonhouse is of (rough) logs

subject verb object

of = made from
log = batang kayu
rough = tidak halus
chink = part of chain connecting it together
has long fallen = fell a long time ago

Square, with a broken roof set at a single pitch, it leans in empty and shimmering dilapidation in
the sunlight, a single broad window in two opposite walls giving onto the approaches of the path.

it (the cottonhouse) leans

subject verb

lean = miring

pitch = nada
pitch = angle (sudut)
shimmering = bright, cahaya
dilapidation = hancur
broad = wide

opposite walls = walls that face each other

approaches = the part of the path approaching the house

When we reach it I turn and follow the path which circles the house.

I turn (and) follow the path

subject verb 1 verb 2

Jewel, fifteen feet behind me, looking straight ahead, steps in a single stride through the window.

Jewel steps
subject verb