Time by Allen Curnow: Summary, Analysis, Themes & Style
Time by Allen Curnow: Summary, Analysis, Themes & Style
Time' by Allen Curnow embarks on a profound exploration of the multifaceted nature of time. Employing vivid imagery and personification, the poet encapsulates the omnipresence and influence of time on various facets of human experience. The repetitive structure, marked by the refrain 'I am,' serves as a powerful metaphorical device throughout the poem. 'Time’ by Allen Curnow Poem Text
I am the nor-west air among the pines
I am the water-race and the rust on railway lines
I am the mileage recorded on the yellow signs.
I am dust, I am distance, I am lupins back of the beach
I am the sums the sole-charge teachers teach
I am cows called to milking and the magpie’s screech.
I am nine o’clock in the morning when the office is clean
I am the slap of the belting and the smell of the machine
I am the place in the park where lovers were seen.
I am recurrent music the children hear
I am level noises in the remembering ear
I am the sawmill and the passionate second gear.
I, Tim…
