This poem has two major parts: the line, "So much depends
upon" and the rest of the lines.

As in analyzing other works of literature, changing the
words here and there brings us to realize the force and
meaning of the original terms. For example, the wheel
barrow is "glazed with rain water." Suppose it had said
instead, "soaked with tap water". As a result of the
contrasts, "glazed" now stands out as suggesting
improvement, and "rain water" now identifies itself as
something natural - tugging, as it were, the mechanical
(man-made?) wheel barrow into a closer union with the
natural, living chicken.

Now the wheel barrow is red and the chickens are white.
Putting aside for the moment that wheel barrows are usually
red, yet the color red is vibrant, suggesting something
living; whereas the living, white chickens look bloodless,
lifeless. Have we not here a further attempt to bring the
two figures, wheel barrow and chickens, together, each
taking on some quality of the other?

And that "beside" indicating companionship.

Now what could be meant by the remark that "so much depends
upon" these exchanges as we have seen them above? Should we
not conclude that the poem asserts the need for the man-
made and the natural(the living) to be compatible,
companionable?

Frank Lloyd Wright, that architect whose buildings were
designed to blend in with the surrounding environment, must
have loved this poem!

And now, the obvious *farm scene*. What shall we make of
that?

L. Swilley

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