33 pages • 1 hour read
Abandoned Farmhouse
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Background
Literary Context
“Abandoned Farmhouse” finds influence in the early-20th-century imagist movement by using concrete images, favoring a natural voice over heightened poetic diction, and eschewing formal metrical structure.
American poet Ezra Pound’s foundational work “A Retrospect” (1918) includes “A Few Don’ts”—a set of mistakes to avoid when writing imagist poetry. Don’t let superfluous words clutter the poem, for instance. Writers also shouldn’t allow abstractions to dilute the precision of the observation: “The natural object is always the adequate symbol,” Pound writes (Pound, Ezra. “A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste.” 30 Oct 2005. Poetry Foundation).
A similar assertion is made by William Carlos Williams’s line in Paterson (1927): “No ideas but in things.” Abstract ideas do not produce clear, specific pictures set in a single context. Love, truth, freedom, or justice can’t be seen directly. A description of rags stuffed in a window is something a reader can imagine. By giving a reader something tangible to hold onto, the poet is giving meaning a place to build on. This approach is a primary characteristic of Kooser’s poetry. “Abandoned Farmhouse” features a series of direct descriptions that communicate an emotional impression.
“Abandoned Farmhouse” also exhibits the characteristics of a lyric. The language, though plain-spoken, carries a strong musicality. Though no central first-person “I” speaks, the collective voice of the objects communicates emotion. Just enough plot is shared to establish context without overtaking the whole. The lyric poem is often short and tightly focused, making it fit comfortably with an imagist’s style.
Historical Context
Kooser’s poetry takes inspiration from the landscape and culture of Nebraska—a state shaped by its agriculture. From the early days of settlement, this land attracted farmers and ranchers. Railroad companies interested in keeping the area well-supplied with food and workers sold parcels of land to those willing to brave the conditions. Despite hope for success, farming has always been hard work. Droughts, pests, and bad weather can ruin even the most capable farmers. The famous Dust Bowl drought of the 1930s, for instance, affected part of Nebraska. Storms could blanket an area, such as where the poem’s farmhouse sits, with heaps of dirt blown in from dry wheat fields.
Economic insecurity also played a role in devastating industry and individuals. In the 1980s, a farm crisis hit the United States. Rapidly accumulating farm debt, high interest rates, and inflation-era oil prices in the 1970s stressed the system. Low commodity prices and a limited export market added more pressure. Moreover, falling land prices contributed to record numbers of foreclosures in the mid-eighties. Even without economic insecurity, abandoned farmhouses are not an uncommon sight in farming communities. Kooser’s choice to include the poem in a 1980 collection speaks to both a historical moment and a living cultural experience.
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By Ted Kooser
