The Black-Faced Sheep

The Black-Faced Sheep

by Donald Hall

Ruminant pillows! Gregarious soft boulders!

If one of you found a gap in a stone wall,
the rest of you—rams, ewes, bucks, wethers, lambs;
mothers and daughters, old grandfather-father,
cousins and aunts, small bleating sons—
followed onward, stupid
as sheep, wherever
your leader’s sheep-brain wandered to.

My grandfather spent all day searching the valley
and edges of Ragged Mountain,
calling “Ke-day!” as if he brought you salt,
“Ke-day! Ke-day!”

When the shirt wore out, and darns in the woolen
shirt needed darning,
a woman in a white collar
cut the shirt into strips and braided it,
as she braided her hair every morning.

In a hundred years
the knees of her great-granddaughter
crawled on a rug made from the wool of sheep
whose bones were mud,
like the bones of the woman, who stares
from an oval in the parlor.

I forked the brambly hay down to you
in nineteen-fifty. I delved my hands deep
in the winter grass of your hair.

When the shearer cut to your nakedness in April
and you dropped black eyes in shame,
hiding in barnyard corners, unable to hide,
I brought grain to raise your spirits,
and ten thousand years
wound us through pasture and hayfield together,
threads of us woven
together, three hundred generations
from Africa’s hills to New Hampshire’s.

You were not shrewd like the pig.
You were not strong like the horse.
You were not brave like the rooster.

Yet none of the others looked like a lump of granite
that grew hair,
and none of the others
carried white fleece as soft as dandelion seed
around a black face,
and none of them sang such a flat and sociable song.

Now the black-faced sheep have wandered and will not return,
even if I should search the valleys
and call “Ke-day!,” as if I brought them salt.
Now the railroad draws
a line of rust through the valley. Birch, pine, and maple
lean from cellarholes
and cover the dead pastures of Ragged Mountain
except where machines make snow
and cables pull money up hill, to slide back down.

At South Danbury Church twelve of us sit—
cousins and aunts, sons—
where the great-grandfathers of the forty-acre farms
filled every pew.
I look out the window at summer places,
at Boston lawyers’ houses
with swimming pools cunningly added to cowsheds,
and we read an old poem aloud, about Israel’s sheep,
old lumps of wool, and we read

that the rich farmer, though he names his farm for himself,
takes nothing into his grave;
that even if people praise us, because we are successful,
we will go under the ground
to meet our ancestors collected there in the darkness;
that we are all of us sheep, and death is our shepherd,
and we die as the animals die.

Exploring Donald Hall’s “The Black-Faced Sheep”

Welcome, poetry explorers, to a journey into the heart of Donald Hall’s poignant poem, “The Black-Faced Sheep.” This remarkable work invites us to reflect on the passage of time, the rhythms of nature, and the deep connections between humanity and the land. Let us uncover the layers of meaning within this beautiful piece of literature.

Summary of “The Black-Faced Sheep”

Donald Hall’s “The Black-Faced Sheep” is a deeply moving exploration of memory, loss, and the enduring cycles of life and death. The poem weaves together personal recollections of a rural past with a lament for a vanishing way of life. At its core, the poem uses the image of black-faced sheep to represent not only a specific pastoral tradition but also a broader metaphor for the human journey through time.

The narrative unfolds across generations, from the speaker’s grandfather calling the lost sheep, to a woman crafting a rug from their wool, to the speaker’s own experiences tending them. This journey highlights the intimate relationship between people, animals, and the land. However, the poem ultimately mourns the disappearance of these sheep and the traditional farming life they symbolize, replaced by modern developments and a disconnect from nature.

Central Idea of “The Black-Faced Sheep”

The central idea of “The Black-Faced Sheep” revolves around the inevitable flow of time, the profound sense of loss that accompanies change, and the ultimate fate that awaits all living things: a return to the earth. Hall masterfully contrasts the enduring presence of the landscape with the transient lives of those who inhabit it, emphasizing the shift from a simple, agrarian past to a rapidly changing, industrialized present. The sheep, initially symbols of a vibrant farm life, eventually wander away, reflecting the erosion of traditional existence and the fading of a cherished heritage.

Noteworthy Knowledge about “The Black-Faced Sheep”

“The Black-Faced Sheep” is celebrated for its rich imagery, lyrical language, and its powerful ability to evoke a strong sense of place. The poem is deeply rooted in Donald Hall’s own New Hampshire upbringing and reflects his profound connection to the land and its history. It is a testament to his skill in capturing the essence of rural life and the emotional weight of its transformation.

A particularly noteworthy aspect is the poem’s use of the shepherd motif. This extends beyond the literal caretaker of sheep to represent death itself, guiding all beings toward their final destination. The poem’s concluding lines offer a universal reflection on mortality, reminding readers that all of humanity, like the sheep, is subject to the same natural cycle of life and death.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “The Black-Faced Sheep”

Donald Hall masterfully employs a rich array of literary and poetic devices to craft a resonant and thought-provoking poem. These techniques enhance the poem’s emotional impact and deepen its meaning, inviting readers to engage with its themes on multiple levels. Let us explore some of the key devices used in “The Black-Faced Sheep.”

Alliteration

Alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, adds to the poem’s sonic texture and emphasizes certain phrases. Observe how the recurrence of sounds creates a musicality and draws attention to specific images:

• The opening lines feature the soft ‘s’ sound: “Ruminant pillows! Gregarious soft boulders!”
• Later, the ‘s’ sound reappears, connecting the sheep to their environment: “If one of you found a gap in a stone wall.”
• The description of the sheep themselves uses the ‘b’ sound: “around a black face.”
• The poem also uses the ‘f’ sound to describe the farms: “great-grandfathers of the forty-acre farms.”

Assonance

Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds within words, subtly weaves throughout the poem, creating a musical quality and emphasizing certain words or ideas. This device often works quietly to enhance the poem’s rhythm and mood:

• The repeated long ‘o’ sound connects the sheep’s physical presence to their eventual fate: “whose bones were mud, like the bones of the woman.”
• The short ‘e’ sound in the grandfather’s call echoes the landscape: “calling “Ke–day!” as if he brought you salt, “Ke–day! Ke–day!””
• The description of the sheep’s appearance also uses the short ‘a’ sound: “carried white fleece as soft as dandelion seed around a black face.”

Anaphora

Anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines, is used powerfully in the poem to create emphasis and build a rhythmic intensity. This technique drives home a particular point with memorable force:

“You were not shrewd like the pig.
You were not strong like the horse.
You were not brave like the rooster.”

This repeated phrase highlights the unique qualities of the sheep by contrasting them with other farm animals, underscoring their gentle nature and distinct appearance.

Enjambment

Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without punctuation, is a key feature of Hall’s style. This creates a sense of momentum, mimicking the natural flow of thought or the relentless passage of time, drawing the reader forward:

“Yet none of the others looked like a lump of granite
that grew hair,”

Here, the thought of the granite lump flows directly into the idea of it growing hair, creating a surprising and continuous image that emphasizes the sheep’s unusual appearance.

Imagery

The poem is exceptionally rich in vivid imagery, appealing to all the senses and creating a strong sense of place and emotional response. Hall uses concrete details to paint pictures in the reader’s mind:

• Visual imagery brings the sheep to life: “Ruminant pillows! Gregarious soft boulders!” and “white fleece as soft as dandelion seed around a black face.”
• Tactile imagery connects the speaker to the animals: “I delved my hands deep in the winter grass of your hair.”
• Auditory imagery captures the sounds of the farm: “small bleating sons” and “sang such a flat and sociable song.”
• The landscape is also vividly depicted: “the brambly hay,” “dead pastures of Ragged Mountain,” and “a line of rust through the valley.”

Metaphor

Hall employs metaphor to create deeper layers of meaning, allowing one thing to stand in for another. The black-faced sheep themselves are a central metaphor, representing far more than just animals:

• The sheep symbolize a traditional, pastoral way of life, one that is slowly disappearing.
• They also represent humanity itself, particularly in the poem’s conclusion where “we are all of us sheep, and death is our shepherd.” This powerful metaphor equates human existence with the vulnerability and guided journey of sheep.
• The sheep are also “Ruminant pillows! Gregarious soft boulders!”, a metaphor that captures their gentle, communal nature while hinting at their solid, enduring presence in the landscape.

Simile

The poem uses simile to draw striking comparisons, making descriptions more vivid and relatable. Similes help readers understand unfamiliar concepts by likening them to something known:

• The sheep’s wool is described with delicate precision: “carried white fleece as soft as dandelion seed.” This simile emphasizes the lightness and purity of their fleece.
• The sheep’s collective movement is compared to a lack of intelligence: “followed onward, stupid as sheep.” This common simile highlights their instinctual, herd behavior.
• The sheep’s unique appearance is likened to an inanimate object: “none of the others looked like a lump of granite that grew hair.” This comparison underscores their distinctive, earthy quality.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “The Black-Faced Sheep”

Beyond specific literary figures of speech, Hall utilizes several broader poetic techniques to enhance the poem’s emotional resonance and create its unique stylistic effect.

Free Verse

“The Black-Faced Sheep” is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This choice allows Hall to create a natural, conversational tone, mirroring the rhythms of everyday speech and thought. The absence of rigid form emphasizes the poem’s content and emotional honesty over a predetermined structure, giving it an organic feel that suits its themes of nature and memory.

Stanza Structure

The poem is divided into sections, each consisting of varying lengths of stanzas. This flexible structure allows Hall to shift focus seamlessly, moving between different time periods, memories, and reflections. Each stanza or section can be seen as a distinct moment or idea, guiding the reader through the poem’s narrative and thematic progression. This dynamic arrangement keeps the reading experience engaging and allows for moments of intense focus on particular images or thoughts.

Symbolism

Symbolism is pervasive throughout “The Black-Faced Sheep,” with various elements carrying deeper meanings that enrich the poem’s themes:

• The Black-Faced Sheep: As discussed, they symbolize a vanishing rural tradition, the connection to the land, and ultimately, humanity itself in its journey toward mortality.
• The Landscape (Ragged Mountain, valleys, pastures): Represents permanence and the enduring cycle of nature, contrasting with the transient lives of humans and animals. It is a witness to generations of change.
• “Ke-day!“: This call for the sheep symbolizes the human attempt to maintain connection, to gather what is lost, and to hold onto tradition, even as it fades.
• The Railroad and Modern Developments: These elements symbolize the encroachment of industrialization and modern life, which disrupt traditional ways and lead to the loss of natural spaces and heritage. “A line of rust through the valley” powerfully depicts decay and abandonment.
• The Church and its Pews: Symbolize community, tradition, and a place of reflection on mortality and shared human experience. The dwindling congregation highlights the decline of the old ways.
• Death as Shepherd: In the poem’s powerful conclusion, death is personified as a shepherd, guiding all living beings, including humans, to their final rest. This universal symbol underscores the shared fate of all creatures.

Major Themes in “The Black-Faced Sheep”

Donald Hall’s poem explores several profound themes that resonate deeply with readers, inviting contemplation on life, loss, and our place in the world.

Loss and Change

A dominant theme is the lament for a disappearing way of life and the inevitable march of change. The wandering away of the black-faced sheep symbolizes the loss of traditional farming, community, and a deep connection to the land. The poem contrasts the vibrant past with a present marked by abandonment and modernization:

“Now the black-faced sheep have wandered and will not return,
even if I should search the valleys
and call “Ke-day!,” as if I brought them salt.
Now the railroad draws
a line of rust through the valley.”

These lines vividly portray the irreversible nature of this loss, where even the familiar call cannot bring back what has vanished, and industrial remnants scar the landscape.

Connection to Nature and Ancestry

The poem celebrates the profound and ancient connection between humans, animals, and the natural world. It highlights the generational ties to the land and the wisdom passed down through family. The speaker’s personal experiences with the sheep are intertwined with the history of his ancestors:

“and ten thousand years
wound us through pasture and hayfield together,
threads of us woven
together, three hundred generations
from Africa’s hills to New Hampshire’s.”

This powerful imagery emphasizes a shared, deep-rooted heritage that spans continents and millennia, connecting the individual to a vast lineage and the earth itself.

Mortality and the Human Condition

Ultimately, “The Black-Faced Sheep” is a meditation on mortality and the universal human condition. The poem reminds us that all living things, regardless of their strength or success, share the same fate. The final stanza serves as a profound reflection on this shared journey:

“that the rich farmer, though he names his farm for himself,
takes nothing into his grave;
that even if people praise us, because we are successful,
we will go under the ground
to meet our ancestors collected there in the darkness;
that we are all of us sheep, and death is our shepherd,
and we die as the animals die.”

These lines encapsulate the poem’s core message: that life is transient, death is the ultimate equalizer, and all of humanity is part of a grand, natural cycle, guided by an inescapable force.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of “The Black-Faced Sheep”

“The Black-Faced Sheep” by Donald Hall is a timeless poem that invites us to ponder the profound themes of loss, memory, and our place within the grand tapestry of life and death. Through its rich imagery, evocative language, and masterful use of literary and poetic devices, the poem creates a powerful and unforgettable experience. It reminds us to cherish the connections we have to our past, our land, and each other, while also accepting the inevitable changes that time brings. This poem stands as a beautiful and poignant reflection on what it means to be human, and how our stories, like the wool of the black-faced sheep, are woven into the very fabric of existence.