The poor man's pig-Edmund Blunden

 THE POOR MAN'S PIG

Already fallen plum-bloom stars the green,

And apple-boughs as knarred as old toads' backs

Wear their small roses ere a rose is seen;

The building thrush watches old Job who stacks

Their fresh-peeled osiers on the sunny fence,

The pent sow grunts to hear him stumping by,

And tries to push the bolt and scamper thence,

But her ringed snout still keeps her to the sty.

Then out he lets her run; away she snorts

In building gallop for the cottage door,

With hungry hubbub begging crusts and orts,

Then like the whirlwind bumping round once

more,

Nuzzling the dog, making the pullets run,

And sulky as a child when her play's done.

EDMUND BLUNDEN

Summary: 'The Poor Man's Pig' by Edmund Blunden presents a vivid scene of rural life as it captures the ambiance of a farm in spring. The poem describes the blossoming plum and apple trees, setting the stage for the observations of a poor man named Job. Job is seen peeling osiers, and the building thrush, a bird, watches him work. The pent sow, confined in her sty, grunts and attempts to escape when Job approaches but is tethered by her ringed snout.

Eventually, Job releases the sow, and she eagerly runs towards the cottage, making a noisy plea for food. The poem vividly describes her voracious appetite, likening her to a whirlwind as she scours for crusts and scraps. The pig interacts with other animals on the farm, nudging the dog and causing the pullets (young chickens) to scatter. Despite her initial enthusiasm, the poem ends on a note of sulkiness, likening the pig to a child reluctant to end playtime. Blunden captures the simple yet dynamic life on the farm and the interactions between the animals emphasizing the struggles and charm of the poor man's world.