Fertile Lands and Great Cheese
By James McIntyre
In barren district you may meet
Small fertile spot doth grow fine wheat,
There you may find the choicest fruits,
And great, round, smooth and solid roots.
But in conditions such as these
You cannot make a mammoth cheese,
Which will weigh eight thousand pounds,
But where large fertile farms abounds.
Big cheese is synonymous name,
With fertile district of the Thame,
Here dairy system's understood,
And they are made both large and good.
Poem Analysis:
James McIntyre's poem "Fertile Lands and Great Cheese" celebrates the connection between fertile lands and the production of large, high-quality cheese. Through its straightforward language and agricultural imagery, the poem highlights the importance of fertile soil in the creation of mammoth-sized cheeses. Let's delve into the themes, imagery, and underlying messages of McIntyre's poem.
The Relationship Between Soil Fertility and Cheese Production
McIntyre opens the poem by emphasizing the importance of fertile lands in agricultural production. He contrasts barren districts with small fertile spots that yield fine wheat, choice fruits, and robust roots. This imagery underscores the idea that fertile soil is essential for successful farming and crop cultivation.
Mammoth Cheese Production
The central focus of McIntyre's poem is the production of mammoth-sized cheeses. He highlights the impossibility of creating such large cheeses in barren or infertile districts, emphasizing the need for large, fertile farms. McIntyre's description of an eight-thousand-pound cheese underscores the magnitude of these agricultural achievements and suggests a sense of pride in the abundance and quality of the cheese produced in fertile regions.
Synonymous with Fertility
McIntyre suggests that the term "big cheese" is synonymous with fertile districts like those along the Thame River. This association implies that the quality and size of cheese are directly linked to the fertility of the land and the expertise of dairy farmers. McIntyre suggests that in areas where the dairy system is well understood and supported by fertile lands, large and high-quality cheeses are both made and appreciated.
"Fertile Lands and Great Cheese" by James McIntyre celebrates the relationship between fertile lands and the production of mammoth-sized cheeses. Through its agricultural imagery and straightforward language, the poem underscores the importance of soil fertility in agricultural success and highlights the pride associated with producing large and high-quality cheeses in fertile regions. McIntyre's poem serves as a tribute to the agricultural expertise and abundance found in regions blessed with fertile lands, emphasizing the connection between land, agriculture, and culinary traditions.