Birdshooting Season

Birdshooting Season

By Olive Senior

Birdshooting season: the men
make marriages with their guns
My father’s house turns macho
as from far the hunters gather

All night long the contentless women
stir their brews: hot coffee
chocolate, cassie
wrap pone and tie-leaf
for tomorrow’s sport. Tonight
the men drink white rum neat.

In the darkness shouldering
their packs, guns, they leave

We stand quietly on the
doorstep shivering. Little boys
longing to grow up bird hunters too
Little girls whispering:
Fly Birds Fly

Summary of Birdshooting Season

• A Poem of Tradition and Expectation: Olive Senior’s “Birdshooting Season,” published in 1985, vividly portrays a cultural tradition—the annual birdshooting season—and its impact on a family and community. The poem isn’t simply about hunting; it’s a nuanced exploration of masculinity, domestic roles, and the contrasting hopes and fears of children.
• The Heart of the Poem: The poem centers on the preparations for the birdshooting season. We see the men eagerly anticipating the hunt, their anticipation almost ritualistic, and the women diligently preparing food and drink to sustain them. The final stanza introduces a poignant contrast: the boys dreaming of joining the hunt, and the girls offering silent pleas for the birds’ safety.
• Key Themes: “Birdshooting Season” tackles complex themes including the performance of masculinity, the expectations placed upon women within a traditional society, and the awakening of social consciousness in children. It subtly examines the tension between celebrating a cultural practice and acknowledging its potential harm to the natural world.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Birdshooting Season”

Olive Senior expertly employs a range of literary devices to create a rich and evocative poem. These devices contribute to the poem’s meaning, texture, and emotional impact.

1. Metaphor: The opening lines establish a powerful metaphor: “Birdshooting season: the men make marriages with their guns.” This isn’t a literal marriage, of course. The metaphor suggests a deep, almost obsessive connection between the men and their weapons, implying the hunt is a crucial part of their identity and fulfillment. It also implies a possessive relationship, hinting at domination over nature.
2. Imagery: Senior uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to appeal to the senses. Phrases like “My father’s house turns macho” create a visual picture of heightened masculinity and aggression. The descriptions of the women preparing food – “hot coffee, chocolate, cassie, wrap pone and tie-leaf” – engage the reader’s sense of smell and taste, grounding the poem in a specific cultural context.
3. Personification: While subtle, there is a degree of personification in how the guns are treated, extending the “marriage” metaphor. They are not simply tools, but almost extensions of the men’s personalities, representing power and prowess.
4. Symbolism: “Macho” is a key symbol in the poem, representing a traditional, often aggressive, form of masculinity. The “white rum neat” further emphasizes this, suggesting a raw, unrefined energy. The birds themselves can be seen as symbols of freedom and vulnerability, contrasting sharply with the hunters’ power.
5. Enjambment: The use of enjambment, where lines run on without punctuation, creates a flowing, conversational rhythm. For example:

“All night long the contentless women
stir their brews: hot coffee
chocolate, cassie
wrap pone and tie-leaf
for tomorrow’s sport.”

This technique mimics the continuous activity and anticipation leading up to the hunt.

6. Consonance and Assonance: While not overwhelming, Senior employs these sound devices subtly to create musicality and emphasize certain words. For example, the repetition of the “s” sound in “shouldering / their packs, guns” draws attention to the hunters’ readiness.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Birdshooting Season”

In addition to literary devices, “Birdshooting Season” utilizes several poetic techniques to enhance its impact.

1. Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, meaning it doesn’t adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This gives the poem a natural, conversational tone and allows Senior to focus on rhythm and imagery rather than formal structure.
2. Stanza Structure: The poem is divided into four stanzas. The first stanza establishes the setting and introduces the central event. The second focuses on the women’s domestic labor. The third shifts the perspective to the departure of the hunters, and the final stanza presents the contrasting reactions of the children. This structure effectively guides the reader through the poem’s progression.
3. Repetition: The repetition of “Fly Birds Fly” in the final line is particularly striking. This simple phrase, whispered by the girls, represents their empathy for the birds and their silent protest against the hunt. The repetition emphasizes their innocence and vulnerability.
4. Juxtaposition: The poem skillfully juxtaposes the excitement and anticipation of the men with the quiet, domestic work of the women, and the contrasting hopes of the boys and girls. This juxtaposition highlights the different roles and expectations within the community.

Quotes to be Used

These lines from “Birdshooting Season” are particularly effective when discussing themes of culture, gender roles, and environmental awareness.

“All night long the contentless women
stir their brews: hot coffee
chocolate, cassie
wrap pone and tie-leaf
for tomorrow’s sport. Tonight
the men drink white rum neat.”

This passage vividly portrays the traditional gender roles within the community and the preparation that goes into the hunt.

“In the darkness shouldering
their packs, guns, they leave.”

This line emphasizes the power and dominance of the hunters and the secretive nature of the hunt.

“Little girls whispering:
Fly Birds Fly.”

This poignant line encapsulates the poem’s underlying message of empathy and environmental concern.