fern hill
...ree, we must be young and not necessarily thinking mature thoughts. The speaker adds that he is carefree, and now one more word is added to the list to the color green. The speaker personifies Time when he first mentions golden: Time let me hail and climb Golden in the heydays of his eyes, (5) This is the description of a child, a golden hallmark in Time's existence, because of the word, "Time let me." Precious to Time, but something that money cannot buy. I like to think Time is remembering when he was young and full of youth, but its now the overseer of the speaker. When I think of golden, I think of ripened wheat or barley, when it is most valuable as a crop. Or, something very precious, like a metal. The speaker says that his childhood is precious. Time let me play and be Golden in the mercy of his means (14) Time lets the speaker grow up, never pushing, in no hurry. The long days of youth. Golden could be substitute for a great deal, but I think the word precious fits best. The speaker is golden, and that word is now tied in with mercy. Thomas uses green and golden to describe in two words all the messages that the words connotate: And green and golden, I was a huntsman and a herdsman (15) The speaker took the life of animals when needed and he cared for animals, perhaps, trying to survive himself. He is a young, vibrant hunter and a cowboy, who shows mercy and caring. Green and golden, he is able to take part in gathering for his family. Thomas also took me to see: fire green as grass (22) I do not normaly see fires as green; I see fires as having red, yellow, and orange, unless there is copper burning. Thomas made me think of a fresh fire in the chimneys by the use of green. A fire of the type that has a lot of fuel, strong, vibrant, and young as opposed to an old fire with its embers and not much visible flame, but a great deal of heat. A green fire as opposed to an old, hot fire. Also, a fire that has expended its energy and is about to go out or die. The speaker talks of death in metaphor that may not be understood by the reader (me) the first time through: Before children green and golden Follow him out of grace (45) The stanza after the children fell from grace refers to heaven, "out of grace" ...