A E F
A E F - meaning Summary
Rust and Abandoned Memory
The poem presents an image of a neglected rifle hanging on a wall, its metal eaten by rust and a spider spinning a nest in its darkest corners. No one polishes the weapon; it becomes part of the room’s background, a half-forgotten object spoken of with casual indifference. The domestic approval of the spider suggests resignation: destructive or dangerous things can be tamed into quiet reminders rather than confronted.
Read Complete AnalysesThere will be a rusty gun on the wall, sweetheart, The rifle grooves curling with flakes of rust. A spider will make a silver string nest in the darkest, warmest corner of it. The trigger and the range-finder, they too will be rusty. And no hands will polish the gun, and it will hang on the wall. Forefingers and thumbs will point casually toward it. It will be spoken among half-forgotten, wished-to-be-forgotten things. They will tell the spider: Go on, you're doing good work.
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