Stanza I
Do something, brother:
keep doing something, anything; you mustn’t be idle.
Pull out this plant, nip this little leaf, crush that flower.
There’s grass,
run your brand through it, burn it like Lanka.
Tiny butterflies, parrots, sparrows-chase them, catch them, pluck their wings,
pull out their fur and feather.
There, in the garden, jasmine and the banana’s gold grow for the wild elephant’s feet.
These lines describe a sense of restlessness and a call to action. The speaker urges someone, referred to as “brother,” to keep doing something, anything, and not be idle. The imagery used suggests a destructive approach, as the speaker mentions pulling out plants, nipping leaves, and crushing flowers. He even goes as far as suggesting harming small creatures like butterflies, parrots, and sparrows.
The speaker mentions a garden with jasmine and golden bananas, which seem to symbolize beauty and abundance. However, he juxtaposes it with the idea that these elements exist for the wild elephant’s feet, implying that even what seems precious can be subjected to destruction.
Overall, these lines convey a sense of restlessness, a desire to take action, and a willingness to disrupt and destroy in pursuit of that action.
Stanza II
All over the walls
virility’s master-switches itch for your fingers;
close your eyes
and pull down twenty of them.
Earth, water, the skies,
they’re all your geese with golden eggs: gouge them out, slash them.
‘Do, or die,’ they say.
Disasters are the test for your genius’s galloping dance: something must crash every minute.
Brother, act, act at once, do something.
Thought’s weights and measures are all for the past,
for the undying ghostly treasures of the dead.
These lines suggest a sense of urgency and a call to action. The speaker uses vivid imagery to convey a desire for the listener to unleash his power and take charge. The phrase “virility’s master-switches itch for your fingers” implies a strong desire for action and the potential for great impact.
The speaker encourages the listener to close his eyes and pull down twenty of these switches, symbolizing a transformative and powerful act. He describes Earth, water, and the skies as geese with golden eggs, suggesting that there are abundant opportunities waiting to be seized.
The phrase “do, or die” emphasizes the high stakes and the need for the listener to act decisively. The speaker even suggests that disasters are a test for the listener’s genius, implying that through destruction, something new and remarkable can emerge.
The speaker addresses the listener as “brother” once again, urging him to act immediately and do something. He implies that the past is irrelevant and that the true treasures lie in the present and the future.
Overall, these lines convey a sense of urgency, the importance of taking action, and the belief that through bold and decisive moves, great transformations can occur.
Stanza III
There’s the forest,
cut it clean to the stump, slit it for your buntings.
You have the axe, the sickle, the saw and the knife; go, harvest all the world with a flourish of your hand.
But you meet
winter mists, walls of fog,
walls that line the space between face and face, and the road that sighs and breaks in two under your eyes,
a couple of mountain-peaks that rear their hoods and lower upon your head, or lightning-winks from sirens that sing in every tree:
do they plunge you into anxieties and dilemmas of reason?
No, no, this won’t do.
You’re a simple man, and that’s your strength.
Horse-sense and the blinkers are your forte.
These lines highlight the contrast between the speaker’s initial call to action and the challenges and obstacles that one may face in the process. The speaker encourages the listener to cut down the forest, symbolizing a desire for progress and achievement. He mentions tools like the axe, sickle, saw, and knife, emphasizing the power and resources at hand to accomplish great things.
However, the speaker acknowledges that there are obstacles in the form of winter mists, walls of fog, and mountain peaks that can create anxieties and dilemmas of reason. These challenges may cause hesitation and uncertainty.
But the speaker reassures the listener by saying, “No, no, this won’t do. You’re a simple man, and that’s your strength. Horse-sense and the blinkers are your forte.” This suggests that the listener’s simplicity and practicality are his greatest assets. He has a strong sense of common sense and the ability to focus on his goals, ignoring distractions and doubts.
Overall, these lines highlight the initial call to action, the challenges that may arise, and the importance of staying grounded and relying on one’s practicality and common sense to overcome obstacles.
Stanza IV
Eat what comes to hand; crush what you touch; cut the hindering vines.
Mother Earth herself, though tired, lies open to the skies;
there’s still flesh on her bone, marrow for your hunger.
Come, come, brother,
never forget that you’re a man!
These lines emphasize a sense of power and agency, urging the listener to take action and seize opportunities. The speaker encourages the listener to “eat what comes to hand,” indicating a readiness to take advantage of whatever opportunities present themselves. He also mentions crushing and cutting hindering vines, symbolizing the need to overcome obstacles and remove anything that stands in the way of progress.
The phrase “Mother Earth herself, though tired, lies open to the skies” suggests that there are still abundant resources and possibilities available for the listener to explore and utilize. The speaker emphasizes that there is still “flesh on her bone, marrow for your hunger,” implying that there are still plenty of opportunities and nourishment to satisfy one’s ambitions and desires.
The repeated phrase “come, come, brother” serves as a rallying call, reminding the listener of his identity as a man and urging him to never forget his power and potential.
Overall, these lines emphasize the importance of seizing opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and tapping into one’s inner strength and capabilities. It encourages the listener to embrace their power and take bold actions to fulfill their ambitions.
Stanza V
Then there’s the Well of Life.
Rope the wheel and axle, pull out all the water.
Reach the last dryness of the rock; grope, grope with the grappling iron.
‘V for Victory,’ brother.
Break down the atom,
reach for the ultimate world within.
Find God’s own arrow and aim it straight at the heart of God’s own embrvo-world.
Do something, anything, anything, brother.
Idle men
are burdens on the land.
Do, brother, do something
Keep doing something all the time to lighten Mother Earth’s loads.
This is right. This is natural.
This is the one thing needful.
These lines talk about the importance of action and productivity. The speaker urges the listener to take action and do something, emphasizing that idle men are burdens on the land. He encourages the listener to rope the wheel and axle, pull out all the water from the Well of Life, and reach the last dryness of the rock by using a grappling iron. The speaker also mentions breaking down the atom and reaching for the ultimate world within, suggesting a pursuit of knowledge and progress.
The phrase “Find God’s own arrow and aim it straight at the heart of God’s own embryo-world” symbolizes the idea of discovering one’s purpose and making a meaningful impact. The speaker emphasizes that doing something, anything, all the time is necessary to lighten the burdens on Mother Earth.
Overall, these lines emphasize the value of taking action, being productive, and making a positive contribution to the world. It highlights the importance of utilizing one’s skills and resources to bring about change and improve the world around us.
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