Question

Heat
By Hilda Doolittle

O wind, rend1 open the heat,
Cut apart the heat,
Rend it to tatters2.

Fruit cannot drop
Through this thick air --
Fruit cannot fall into heat
That presses up and blunts
The points of pears
And rounds the grapes.
Cut the heat --
Plough through it,
Turning it on either side
Of your path.



1. rend: to tear or rip apart
2. tatters: ragged clothing, fabric, or paper

What is this poem about?

Answer 1

Hilda Doolittle's poem "Heat" explores the oppressive qualities of a hot environment, using vivid imagery to convey the heaviness and stifling nature of the heat. The speaker calls upon the wind to intervene and "rend" or tear apart the heat, suggesting a desperate desire for relief from the suffocating atmosphere. The heat is depicted as a tangible force that weighs down on the natural world, inhibiting the growth and falling of fruit, which symbolizes both potential and life.

The poem captures feelings of frustration and longing for a change in circumstances. The repetition of commands to cut, plough, and rend the heat emphasizes an urgency to break free from its grip. Throughout, Doolittle uses natural imagery to illustrate the impact of heat not just on the physical environment, but also on the emotional state of the speaker.

Overall, "Heat" can be interpreted as a metaphor for struggles against overwhelming forces, both external and internal, evoking a sense of yearning for change and liberation.