I Cautious, Scanned My Little Life
poem 178
I Cautious, Scanned My Little Life - meaning Summary
Loss Reshapes Inward Inventory
The speaker describes carefully sorting the contents of a small life, saving what seemed lasting in a barn and letting the rest blow away. Returning to find the stored treasure gone, the speaker confronts loss and becomes a cynic, uncertain whether theft, wind, or divine agency caused it. The poem ends with a restless search: the speaker questions where the heart truly resides and whether love still shelters it.
Read Complete AnalysesI cautious, scanned my little life I winnowed what would fade From what would last till Heads like mine Should be a-dreaming laid. I put the latter in a Barn The former, blew away. I went one winter morning And lo – my priceless Hay Was not upon the Scaffold Was not upon the Beam And from a thriving Farmer A Cynic, I became. Whether a Thief did it Whether it was the wind Whether Deity’s guiltless My business is, to find! So I begin to ransack! How is it Hearts, with Thee? Art thou within the little Barn Love provided Thee?
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