The Good Ole

’ Days Essay, Research Paper

Chris Suarez

The Golden Days

Fern Hill is a poem that celebrates living and youth. When describing a farm in Wales, The speaker (Dylan Thomas) focuses mostly on the nature and its elements. The nature symbolizes his playfulness, careless, and naivety; its surrounding enables him to enjoy and play, which is the most important factor of his life when he is younger. Fern Hill is the sheer joy that rings through every work. Thomas glories in life, in the wonder and beauty and mystery of each living day. Fern Hill is like a mirror into Thomas mind. He is looking back in time, analyzing last couple of years in his life. Nothing really mattered before, when he was younger, but as he becomes aware of his aging process, he feels those golden days have passed him by too fast, and he might have not fulfilled them with much responsibility.

Now as I was young and easy (1) leads into the fact that at this point of his life, Thomas was extremely happy, having no doubts about his actions and the world around him. By turning a clich into nicer sounds and happy as the grass was green (2), Thomas refreshes the readers mind, and has them think from different perspectives. He was prince of the apple towns (6) a metaphor for The King of the castle in this case Thomas does not think about the King as an owner and master, but more as a about a person having the most blast and confidence.

In the second stanza, Thomas tone changes from enjoyable and relaxed into more urgent, demanding, and kind of rushing; he craves enjoyment for every moment of his life. He wants time to stop, Time let me play and be (13), and let him live; a saying Time does not wait for anyone; do not put off for tomorrow what you can do today. Is applied and changed into In the sun that is young once only (12). The repetition of words green and golden is noticeable throughout the whole poem. The connotation of green is youth and freshness. For example green horn is a simile for inexperienced. The connotation of golden is a stage of life, where in this case, as person is a little older, but feels still fresh, and energetic. Such a person does not bother with recognizing the aging process. We can understand the meaning of golden days as good old days. In both (10) and (14), the symbolic meaning of green and golden is applied; these express the necessary availability of more time to play, and exist.

Third stanza, Thomas is in a happy mood. He feels positive, and full of energy, because all the sun long it was running, it was lovely (19), meaning all day ling everything was fine lovely, perfect. In the nature, sun is the most important and basic element. It grows the plats, it brings warmth for the animals, and it gives a birth to everyday, when it rises. Sun is a symbol of life, energy, and power. Sun is related to fire as water is to ice. And fire green as grass (22) is a paradox. The green appearance of fire is a contradiction that is nevertheless true. The fire appears green because first, it is probably big, strong and persistent; therefore, it can be considered young; secondly, the fire contents is mostly grass and gives the flame a green appearance. Field high as the house, the tunes from chimneys, (20) Thomas symbolizes the high fields as home and family. It is a happy family, where all the members like to sing, as we can hear their tunes coming out from the chimney.

All the moon long I heard, blessed among stables, the nightjar flying with the ricks (26). Thomas not only observes the farm s day life, but night interests him no less. Hiding among the stables, all night long, he watches the farm being extremely alive. All the animals are active at night. The owls are noisy bearing the farm away (24) Nightjars flying, and the horses sweating so hard that the reflection of their skin can be seen flashing into the dark (27). The ending of this stanza is written in an unconscious state. Thomas may be half asleep in visioning the night activity of his home. In both (24 and 25) animals are personified as his family members. The owls are seen as the parents overseeing and protecting the children, the Nightjars. After a long night, Thomas awakening is represented by the cock on his shoulder (29). The bird (cock) is used to symbolize the new day. The new day was born in complete pureness and perfection. It was all shining, it was Adam and maiden (30). Maiden is used as a metaphor for innocents and purity.

In the 5th stanza, Thomas is apparently adopting his virtues; he has bad conscious for being selfish and having fun as his priority I ran my heedless way, and nothing I cared, I my sky blue traits, that time allows in all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs (40, 42, 43); at this point he feels time is non-compromising and he wishes he took advantage of it.