Hunger by Billy Collins?

Question

It goes a little something like this:

The fox you lug over your shoulder
in a dark sack
has cut a hole with a knife
and escaped.

The sudden lightness makes you think
you are stronger
as you walk back to your small cottage
through a forest that covers the world.


I'm a fan of Billy Collins, but this one poem escapes me completely. Not even my teacher can break it down for me.

Help please.

Answer 1

I'm surprised your teacher was at a loss on this one. The "fox" you lugged over your shoulder is anything you thought "in the bag", or "success"...when it escapes, your arrogance makes you think you're stronger instead of realizing that you've lost what you thought was secure. Your "cottage" in a forrest that "covers the world" refers to the fact that no matter how great your house, it is a lonely spot on a very big planet and no matter in what esteem you may hold it, or yourself, in the end you're very insignificant...the fact that you consider it your sanctuary is probably a reflection of the importance you attribute to your own existence. Finally, one more note on the "fox"...it also represents not just success, but long sought success, because it wasn't a "stupid prey", it was a fox that you outwitted...and when you finally think you have what you have so long sought for, you need to pay closer attention to it instead of taking the future for granted.

hope this helps

Answer 2

"fox" is not a real fox ( cuts with a knife)
but is a treasure of the world
one thinks he possesses.
When he completely misses the point,
or misunderstands, the world seems simpler.

example:
if you have no idea of how bad war is,
you live in a much simpler world.
or
if you do not "get it" as to the give and take of love
then too life is very simple.

Answer 3

Foxes like coyotes are tricksters, sly comes to mind. You can figure out the rest now.

Answer 4

No, i do no longer think of so. i like the way the author wrapped it up. the tip of the sequence replaced into rather eye-catching and that i think of that greater books could wreck the performance of this and of the books often. additionally the sequence is meant to be Katniss' tale and it form of feels that Katniss (and her substantial different) stay a quiet existence after the activities of Mockingjay.