The Ferryman's Arms: Stanza 1 (lines1-10)

The Ferryman’s Arms: Stanza 1 (lines1-10)

Title Significance

  • “The Ferryman’s Arms” is symbolic - it denotes a place of rest for travellers before crossing a river, often symbolic of transitioning from life to death, adding a deeper layer of meaning to the poem.

Language and Tone

  • The opening line “Need, breed, desire…“ establishes a sense of urgency and intense longing through the use of short, sharp words.
  • Words like “rate”, “drink”, “pace” and “fall” create a bleak picture of a monotonous, consuming existence.
  • “dull care”, “flea” and “thick sweater” suggest an uncomfortable, discontented and burdensome state of being.
  • The use of the imperative verb form (“Leaves us no choice but to make the whole kit caboodle universal”) conveys a sense of compulsion in carrying the universal burdens of existence.

Metaphor and Imagery

  • “the flea in the thick sweater” is a metaphor for feelings of unease and discontent that persistently bother the speaker.
  • “glass, brass, mahogany, carpet” are tangible, everyday images given to illustrate the ordinary circumstances where profound realisations might occur.
  • The imagery of the “universe shrinking” to a point suggests a cyclical pattern of existential concerns, magnifying them to a level of universality.

Form and Structure

  • The stanza is composed of only two sentences that are separated by a colon; this structure mimics the flow of thoughts, suggesting a monologue or an internal discourse.
  • The use of free verse and a lack of a strict rhyme scheme mirrors the deep sense of disarray and confusion experienced by the speaker.

When revising this stanza, consider the ways in which Paterson uses language and imagery to communicate a sense of unease, longing and introspection.