The Lammas Hireling - Ian Duhig

• "After the fair, I'd still a light heart / And a heavy purse..."

  • Contrast between 'light heart' and 'heavy purse' serves as an effective juxtaposition of emotional and material wealth. Symbolises an initial sense of joy or freedom, paired with financial gain. The ease of the 'light heart' contrasts with the burden of a 'heavy purse' suggesting that wealth may bring unintended consequences or burdens, hinting at guilt or discomfort.
• "...he struck so cheap."

  • Evokes a casual tone and hints at the idea that the hireling (worker or servant) was acquired for less than he was worth, or that the transaction was morally dubious or easily obtained. Ironic - while it suggests something was inexpensive, the full value is left unmeasured and potentially troubling.
  • Cheapness implies an underestimation of the true worth of something or someone, which could foreshadow the harm or regret that results from this seemingly good deal.
• "And cattle doted on him..."

  • Idea that cattle 'doted' on the hireling gives him a strange, almost supernatural or revered quality. Could suggest a connection between the hireling and the natural world, and also points to his ability to charm or manipulate animals, hinting at the power or mystique he holds over other creatures.
  • Cattle symbolise fertility, prosperity and sustenance, implying that the hireling is linked to material abundance and success. 'Doted' adds a sense of affection or obsession.
• "...in his time / Mine only dropped heifers, fat as cream."

  • Heifers (female cows) and cream both represent potential wealth or abundance in agricultural society. However, there is a sense of detachment or futility in the comparison: while the hireling has a direct impact on the prosperity of the cattle, the speaker's herd only produced 'heifers, fat as cream', which implies the speaker's efforts were less successful or meaningful. 'Fat as cream' hints at superficiality.
  • 'Dropped heifers' could suggest a fruitless or frustrating process.
• "Yields doubled."

  • Suggests material success and increasing wealth. The doubling of the yields implies a clear contrast between the speaker's earlier situation and their current prosperity, perhaps showing the positive results of the hireling's influence. Repetition of doubling could imply an excess - more than necessary or natural. Hints at the unsettling nature of the hireling's influence, where success is achieved in a way that is almost too much or unnatural.
• "...I grew fond of company / That knew when to shut up."

  • Sheds light on the speaker's growing affection for the hireling. Reveals the speaker's desire for peace, comfort, and perhaps a certain kind of control or order The preference for quiet company speaks to a sense of introversion or a desire to avoid conflict or overexposure.
  • 'Knew when to shut up' could be ironic, suggesting that while the speaker appreciates the hireling's silence or discretion, it could also foreshadow a silence that hides darker truths or intentions.
• "Disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife,"

  • The speaker's disturbed state suggests an emotional and psychological imbalance, potentially from grief or unresolved feelings about the wife's death. Dreams often symbolise unconscious thoughts, and the disturbance could imply haunting memories or trauma.
  • 'Late' adds a somber tone, marking the wife's death as recent or lingering in the speaker's mind.
• "I hunted down her torn voice to his pale form."

  • Verb choice conveys a sense of obsession, as if the speaker is actively searching or chasing something elusive, possibly linked to guilt, grief, or unresolved anger.
  • Adjective 'torn' evokes an image of pain, rupture, and fragmentation. Could symbolise the wife's voice being interrupted by death or distorted by memory.
  • 'Pale' may symbolise death or the supernatural, as pale skin is often associated with lifelessness. Could hint at the spectral nature of the figure the speaker sees.
• "Stock-still in the light from the dark lantern,"

  • Expression suggests a state of paralysis, shock, or fixity, implying that the figure the speaker encounters is either frozen in time or caught in a moment of suspense.
  • Imagery of a 'dark lantern' is paradoxical, creating an unsettling mood. Lanterns typically provide illumination, but here the light is described as 'dark', suggesting an unreliable or ambiguous source of truth. May reflect the confusion or distorted perception the speaker has of the situation.
• "Stark-naked but for the fox-trap biting his ankle,"

  • The starkness of the nakedness is emphasised, and it could symbolise vulnerability, exposure, or the idea of being stripped of identity. The juxtaposition of this vulnerability with the presence of the fox-trap creates a tense contrast.
  • A fox-trap, often used to catch sly or dangerous animals, could symbolise entrapment or punishment. Trap 'biting' the figure's ankle might suggest that the figure has been ensnared or is caught in a situation that they cannot escape, potentially representing guilt or consequence.
• "I knew him a warlock, a cow with leather horns."

  • 'Warlock' evokes a sense of the supernatural or evil, suggesting the speaker views this figure as something malevolent or otherworldly. It may imply a sense of power, danger, or manipulation.
  • Metaphorical - a cow typically symbolises docility or submission, but the image is inverted with 'leather horns' - horns that are not natural but are artificially created, implying a distorted or perverse form of masculinity or power. The image of the 'cow' may also reflect a rural or agricultural setting.
• "To go into the hare gets you muckle sorrow,"

  • Suggests a form of transformation or association with the hare. In folklore, hares are often connected with witches and shape-shifting. The phrase implies that the speaker may have undergone or witnessed a dangerous transformation or decision.
  • 'Muckle' is an old Scottish term meaning 'great' or 'much'. Intensifies the sense of sorrow, indicating that the consequences of whatever the speaker has done are severe and full of emotional weight.
• "The wisdom runs, muckle care..."

  • Juxtaposes 'wisdom' with 'muckle care'. This tension between the two ideas suggests a conflict between intellectual insight and emotional burden. It may imply that wisdom, rather than providing solace, can lead to heavy responsibility or even regret.
  • Could be linked to the speaker's realisation of the consequences of their actions.
• "...I levelled / And blew the small hour through his heart."

  • Act of 'levelling' and 'blowing' evokes intense violence. 'Small hour' might refer to the early hours of the morning, often associated with secrecy or sin. The hyperbole of 'blew through his heart' emphasises the fatality and immediacy of the act, making it feel inevitable, tragic or reckless.
  • Speaker describes a moment of violence in a detached way, highlighting their emotional distance or their attempt to rationalise a tragic act.
• "The moon came out..."

  • The moon often symbolises enlightenment, madness, or transformation. In this context, it could represent a moment of revelation, a shift from darkness to clarity, or an ironic witness to a grim act. The moon's appearance could indicate that something important or fateful is about to unfold.
  • Could signal a shift in the speaker's perspective, where the moon's illumination reveals the consequences of their actions more clearly.
• "...By its yellow witness / I saw him fur over like a stone mossing."

  • Simile is striking - the image of a stone 'mossing' suggests both decay and stillness, evoking an eerie, lifeless transformation. The stone could also symbolise something cold or dead, while 'mossing' might indicate that the victim is becoming part of the natural world, as if death if a natural consequence.
  • The speaker may be acknowledging that the person has passed, and the yellow witness of the moon highlights the ghastliness of the situation. The stillness of death contrasts with the prior violence.
• "His lovely head thinned..."

  • Suggests both a physical and symbolic diminishing, possibly a loss of innocence or vitality.
  • Could be an attempt by the speaker to recall a time when the victim was more vibrant or full of life, and the 'thinning' evokes both the passage of time and the effects of the act that has occurred.
• "...His top lip gathered."

  • 'Gathered' suggests a contraction or curling, perhaps indicating a painful or involuntary physical response, which could be a subtle detail of the speaker's guilt or the victim's reaction to death.
  • Intensifies the horror of the situation, as it paints a physical manifestation of suffering or horror.
• "His eyes rose like bread."

  • Simile is bizarre and haunting. Bread is often symbolic of life and sustenance, but here it might symbolise a rise from the body (perhaps the spirit or soul) after death, or it could signify an unnatural or grotesque transformation.
  • Could signify that the victim's eyes are now wide open, symbolising a painful revelation of truth, or they might be 'risen' as a metaphor for the lasting consequences of the crime.
• "...I carried him"

  • Abruptness of the line is emphasised by the shortness of the phrase, possibly highlighting the speaker's action in a sudden, final way. 'Carried' may suggest that the speaker is bearing the weight of the act, physically and metaphorically. The image could evoke a sense of guilt or burden.
  • Hints at the emotional weight, suggesting the crime is not over with the act itself, but will persist in their memory or conscience.
• "In a sack that grew lighter at every step"

  • Image suggests an escalating sense of loss or burden. Symbolises the weight of guilt or the process of shedding responsibility. The phrase could also reflect a physical and emotional depletion, aligning with themes of death or a person being 'weighed down' by their actions.
  • A sack is often used in literature to represent something being carried, often burdensome or full of secrets. The fact it 'grew lighter' could signal a release, either from guilt or physical weight.
• "And dropped him from a bridge. There was no / Splash..."

  • Conveys a sense of violent finality. The absence of a 'splash' is chilling -suggesting a quiet, almost casual ending to life. The stark description highlights the detachment and coldness of the act, reinforcing the themes of death and possibly sin.
  • The lack of splash may evoke the idea of a disappearance or a complete vanishing, suggesting the death was not dramatic but inevitable or purposeful.
• "...Now my herd's elf-shot..."

  • 'Elf-shot' refers to a folk belief that diseases or misfortune could be caused by invisible arrows from mythical creatures, particularly elves. This phrase connects the speaker's plight to folklore, possibly invoking the supernatural or the idea of unseen forces causing harm.
  • The speaker may be reflecting on their own guilt or the aftermath of their actions, where the herd is metaphorically harmed. The term implies a kind of invisible or unexplainable damage, perhaps mirroring the speaker's own internal strife or punishment.
• "...I don't dream / But spend my nights casting ball from half-crowns"

  • The speaker's lack of dreams might suggest emotional numbness or an inability to imagine a future, hinting at the psychological toll of the violence they committed. The phrase 'casting ball from half-crowns' is ambiguous, but it may reference gambling or a mind occupied with trivial, repetitive actions as a form of escape.
  • 'Half-crowns' (a coin) highlights materialism, suggesting the speaker's attempts to distract themselves with money or ritual rather than confront the emotional or moral consequences of their actions.
• "And my days here. Bless me, Father, I have sinned."

  • Speaker's invocation of a priest introduces a religious context, suggesting the speaker is seeking redemption or acknowledgement of guilt. 'I have sinned' suggests awareness of wrongdoing, but casual nature of the admission implies a sense of resignation or indifference.
  • Matter-of-fact tone contrasts with the gravity of the confession itself, which could reflect a deeper spiritual or existential disillusionment, possibly indicating lack of sincerity in their repentance or tension between desire for redemption and the inability to change.
• "It has been an hour since my last confession."

  • Casualness of the phrase, which mirrors the structure of a standard Catholic confession, creates a sense of irony. The idea that only an hour has passed suggests the speaker is in a continuous cycle of sin, guilt, and confession, further emphasising the hopelessness or cyclical nature of their condition.
  • Use of the standard confession formula highlights the routine nature of the speaker's spiritual practice, reinforcing the notion of moral stagnation or the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of sin without real transformation.