Wormley

Glow: The joy of childhood is stolen by the realities of oppression as realization comes with growth. Similarities to 'Egg' are noted.

Mistress: McGuiness again takes us back to his days at sea. Sometimes the sea is a metaphor for drunkenness (Waves), but not here. It is a massive life force. The poet is on night watch looking forward at the bow. The sea is his love - or is it Caitlin again? With McGuiness, it isn't clear - nor is it meant to be. He equates her with the natural essence of the good in life. Crown: Ireland wears a crown of thorns. The rubies - red blood from the thorns cutting the flesh - are derived of both the oppressor and those who readily acquiesce to oppression. By waiving and holding out to hope without active self determination - maybe they'll just go away - the populace lacks vision. Moses' horns - divinely inspired insight as depicted on DaVinci's Moses. Fertile Garden: The fertile state of Ireland is plowed under year by year. McGuiness supposes that the fertility of the ever enriched but never harvested field grows immensely. When it does bloom, the flower will be spectacular, he asserts. Egg: Interesting idea. The life force incubates in a sterile protective shell bathed in the ills of the outside. The attainment of completion of self requires exposure to potential harm. Notice the joining of twos. Biologically, the embryo is a joining of two progenitors, sperm & egg, father and mother lines. Psychologically, morally, a child's mind is formed from the early guidance of two parents, father and mother lines.