“Unveiling the Secrets of a Sweltering Summer: Roy Pullam’s Enigmatic Poem from 1957”
In the quaint and often tumultuous world of Barker Hill, we find ourselves drawn into a narrative that wrestles with nature’s fury and mankind’s relentless intrusions. Have you ever thought about how one thunderstorm could reshape a life, or how the rumble of trucks can turn solace into chaos? In this poignant poem, the voice of Uncle Ed encapsulates the agony of a peaceful existence being shattered by the weight of explosives and exploitation. It’s a heart-wrenching portrayal of loss—of land, quietude, and ultimately, home. As we delve deeper into the layers of this work, we’re compelled to reflect on what we might sacrifice in the pursuit of progress and the feeble façade of comfort that often comes at a steep price. Join me as we unpack the striking imagery and profound themes woven into this evocative piece. LEARN MORE.
Barker Hill
Had a thunderstorm
Dynamite jarring the ground
Knocking the bottom
From Uncle Ed’s well
Turning the mortar
In his chimney
Into dust
The roar of the big trucks
Night and day
Hauling locally
To Hart’s tipple
It was his home
His refuge
From the people
At the base
Of the hill
But they had brought hell
In the form of explosives
Robbing him of sleep
Wrecking his property
Turning the land
behind him
Into a pit
Poisoning the water
With iron pyrite
A legal strangulation
That would eventually
Force him to sell
To abandon his Eden
Without a look back
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