Root Cellar - A poem by Theodore Roethke

Theodore Roethke - Root Cellar

Nothing would sleep in that cellar, dank as a ditch,
Bulbs broke out of boxes hunting for chinks in the dark,
Shoots dangled and drooped,
Lolling obscenely from mildewed crates,
Hung down long yellow evil necks, like tropical snakes.
And what a congress of stinks!
Roots ripe as old bait,
Pulpy stems, rank, silo-rich,
Leaf-mold, manure, lime, piled against slippery planks.
Nothing would give up life:
Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.

Added: on January 24th, 2006 at 9:36 PM | Viewed: 12990 times | Comments (13)

Root Cellar - Comments and Information
Poet: Theodore Roethke Poem: Root Cellar Comment 13 of 13, added on April 17th, 2006 at 8:00 PM. Okay first of all there is no sexual implacation in this poem. the line, "and what a congress of stinks!" means what a comming together or meeting of smells that the cellar holds. Congress can mean sex, that is not what the poem is saying. b/c he goes on to list the smells and im pretty sure sex doesnt smell like leaf-mold. riley from United States Comment 12 of 13, added on April 6th, 2006 at 8:10 AM. If you want to know why some people think there is a part of this poem that's about sexuality, then look up the word "congress" in the dictionary. Look down through the definitions until you see the 3rd or 4th or 5th one. This poem has a whole lot of stuff in it about things wanting life -- the shoots and bulbs and things. But it's also slimy, and stinky, because some things ahve died. So the poem is probably a lot about life and death, and sex is part of that. Not in the "ooh-baby" sense, but like how it's connected to reproducing, you know? I think you can talk about sex and sexual imagery without being gross, just sort of as a symbol. Shire from United States Comment 11 of 13, added on January 24th, 2006 at 9:36 PM. ok wow i read these posts...and personally i think u guys have no life...i'm 14 and doing an assignment on this......maybe just maybe..the author went into a root cellar that looked like this.....and whoever found sexual imagery out of this has not been laid. Saad from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Root Cellar, has received 13 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Theodore Roethke with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Root Cellar Last read: 2008-07-06 16:32:29 Viewed 12990 times. Added on January 24th, 2006 at 9:36 PM.

Roethke Info
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