Name: January Ichi D. Pangga.

Section & strand: ITMAWD12

"My Blue Hen"

by Ann Gray

LINE COUNT SYLLABLE COUNT

I sing to my blue hen. 6
I fold her wings against my body.
The fox has had her lover, stealing through the
rough grass, the washed sky.
10 9

21
I tell her, I am the blue heron the hyacinth
macaw. 14
We have a whispered conversation in French. 11
I tell her the horse, the ox, the lion, are all in
the stars at different times in our lives. 24
I tell her there are things even the sea can’t do, 10
like come in when it’s going out. 8
I tell her my heart is a kayak 9
on wild water, a coffin, and a ship in full sail. 14

I tell her there is no present time, an entire

field of dandelions will give her
a thousand different answers.
I tell her a dog can be a lighthouse, a zebra
9 30

finch can dream its song, vibrate its throat

while sleeping. 25
I tell her how the Mayan midwife sings each
child into its own safe song. 18
Tonight, the moon holds back the dark. 8
I snag my hair on the plum trees. 8
I tell her I could’ve been a tree, if you’d held
 me here long enough. 17
I stroke her neck. 4
She makes a bubbling sound, her song of eggs
and feathers. 14
I tell her you were a high note, a summer
lightning storm of a man. 17

Legend:
Personification
Metaphor
Imagery
Simile

Analyze and interpretation:

The poem seems to reflect on time, love, and living. The speaker talks about a
variety of events, including their connection to their blue hen and the size of the
world beyond their own.

The concept of impermanence, or the fleeting aspect of human life, is one of the
poem's major topics. The speaker is struggling with the fleeting nature of time and
the idea that everything eventually changes, including their own life and
relationships. The speaker alludes to this throughout the poem, using phrases like "I
tell her there is no present time" and "I could've been a tree, if you'd held me here
long enough."

Another prominent theme in the poem is the idea of transformation, particularly the
idea that we can change and grow over time. The speaker describes themselves as a
blue heron, the concept of transformation, particularly the idea that humans may
transform and grow with time, is another recurring pattern in the poem. The speaker
compares themselves to several creatures recognized for their distinctive features
and spectacular hues, including a blue heron, a hyacinth macaw, and even a tree. This
progression of the speaker's relationship with their blue hen, from singing to her at
the beginning of the poem to caressing her neck and having a hushed discussion
afterwards, is also represented in that shift.

The poem is about the importance of storytelling and creativity in the end.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses various animal and object descriptions to evoke
awe and magical realism. This ability to imagine and create is a vital part of our
humanity, and it is a way for us to make sense of the world around us.
Overall, the poem reflects the many aspects of life, love, and human experience. It
is a reminder that change is inevitable, and that we can always find new ways to grow
and transform over time.