In this poem Ted Kooser compares a life to a single day. He begins at sunrise, comparing one of the most picturesque times of day to the creation of a new life and the celebration of each new year of its existence. He then proceeds to compare his symbolic sun to an animal, perhaps a goat or cow. As though the sun is its head, and it is grazing in a pasture waiting for someone to collect daylight instead of milk. With this analogy the comparison to life is suddenly being made to an animal. Kooser describes how people spend their days grazing and enjoying the moments and memories of life. Then he ends the poem with his theme. Saying how finally when the sun sets on life, when you die. The only thing that really remains yours, the only thing that's left of you_ is your name, and how you're remembered
A Birthday Poem by Ted Kooser
Just past dawn, the sun stands
with its heavy red head
in a black stanchion of trees,
waiting for someone to come
with his bucket
for the foamy white light,
and then a long day in the pasture.
I too spend my days grazing,
feasting on every green moment
till darkness calls,
and with the others
I walk away into the night,
swinging the little tin bell
of my name.
with its heavy red head
in a black stanchion of trees,
waiting for someone to come
with his bucket
for the foamy white light,
and then a long day in the pasture.
I too spend my days grazing,
feasting on every green moment
till darkness calls,
and with the others
I walk away into the night,
swinging the little tin bell
of my name.
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