The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

Michael Dickman Reads Ellen Bryant Voigt

The New Yorker: Poetry

NOTE

Embrace the Cycle of Life

The poem captivates through its vivid imagery and explores themes of symbiosis and the emotional intricacies of existence. It reflects on the interconnectedness of life, emphasizing the relationship between cows, humans, and nature. The cows, bred for utility, symbolize a deeper societal structure where one's survival is tied to the other. The poem also touches on the contrast between instinct and nurture, highlighting the innocence of nature in the face of human actions. The act of foraging, the care for the cows, and the ritual of cooking invoke a sense of mindfulness of our consumption and the natural cycle of life and death.

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