Milton Acorn Milton Acorn

By Jason LeBrittonBy Jason LeBritton

Background InformationBackground Information

► Milton James Rhode Acorn was born on March 30, 1923, in Milton James Rhode Acorn was born on March 30, 1923, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

► When he was 16 years old Acorn joined the army and fought in When he was 16 years old Acorn joined the army and fought in World War 2. In 1943 Acorn was wounded during a trans-Atlantic World War 2. In 1943 Acorn was wounded during a trans-Atlantic crossing. He was discharged from the army that same year.crossing. He was discharged from the army that same year.

► After the war he returned to Charlottetown and became a After the war he returned to Charlottetown and became a carpenter. When carpentry did not work for Acorn he decided to carpenter. When carpentry did not work for Acorn he decided to become a poet. He felt very strong opinion about politics and is become a poet. He felt very strong opinion about politics and is noticeable in his poetry.noticeable in his poetry.

► In 1956 he moved to Montreal and published his first book “In In 1956 he moved to Montreal and published his first book “In Love and Anger”. While he was living he published 12 books of Love and Anger”. While he was living he published 12 books of poetry, with 1975’s “The Island Means Minago” being the most poetry, with 1975’s “The Island Means Minago” being the most popular. After his death 6 more books of his work were popular. After his death 6 more books of his work were published. published.

Background InformationBackground Information

► Acorn received the Canadian Poet Award, more commonly Acorn received the Canadian Poet Award, more commonly known as the People’s Poet Award in 1970. In 1976 he known as the People’s Poet Award in 1970. In 1976 he

received the Governor Generals Award.received the Governor Generals Award. ► He was given an honorary law degree from the University of He was given an honorary law degree from the University of

Prince Edward Island. When he died in 1986 he was made a Prince Edward Island. When he died in 1986 he was made a member of the Canadian Poetry Association. member of the Canadian Poetry Association.

The Island The Island byby

Milton AcornMilton Acorn

Since I'm Island-born home's Since I'm Island-born home's as preciseas preciseas if a mumbly old carpenter,as if a mumbly old carpenter,shoulder-straps crossed wrong,shoulder-straps crossed wrong,laid it out, refiguredlaid it out, refiguredto the last three-eighths of to the last three-eighths of shingle.shingle.

Nowhere that plowcut wormsNowhere that plowcut wormsheal themselves in red loam; heal themselves in red loam; spruces squat, skirts in sandspruces squat, skirts in sandor the stones of a river rattle or the stones of a river rattle its darkits darktunnel under the elms,tunnel under the elms,is there a spot not measured is there a spot not measured by hands;by hands;no direction I couldn't walkno direction I couldn't walkto the wave-lined edge of to the wave-lined edge of home.home.

Quiet shores -- beaches that roarQuiet shores -- beaches that roarbut walk two thousand paces and but walk two thousand paces and the seathe seabecomes an odd shiningbecomes an odd shiningglimpse among the jeweledglimpse among the jeweledzigzag low hills. Any wonderzigzag low hills. Any wonderyour eyelashes are wingsyour eyelashes are wingsto fly your look both in and out?to fly your look both in and out?In the coves of the land all things In the coves of the land all things are discussed.are discussed.

In the ranged jaws of the Gulf,In the ranged jaws of the Gulf,a red tongue.a red tongue.Indians say a musical GodIndians say a musical Godtook up his brush and painted it,took up his brush and painted it,named it in His own languagenamed it in His own language"The Island"."The Island".

LIVE WITH ME ON EARTH UNDER THE INVISIBLE LIVE WITH ME ON EARTH UNDER THE INVISIBLE DAYLIGHT MOONDAYLIGHT MOON

bybyMilton AcornMilton Acorn

Live with me on Earth among red berries and the Live with me on Earth among red berries and the bluebirdsbluebirdsAnd leafy young twigs whisperingAnd leafy young twigs whisperingWithin such little spaces, between such floors of green, Within such little spaces, between such floors of green, suchsuch     figures in the clouds     figures in the cloudsThat two of us could fill our lives with delicate wanting:That two of us could fill our lives with delicate wanting:

Where stars past the spruce copse mingle with firefliesWhere stars past the spruce copse mingle with firefliesOr the dayscape flings a thousand tones of light back at Or the dayscape flings a thousand tones of light back at thethe     sun—     sun—Be any one of the colours of an Earth lover;Be any one of the colours of an Earth lover;Walk with me and sometimes cover your shadow with Walk with me and sometimes cover your shadow with mine.mine.

I’ve Tasted My BloodI’ve Tasted My Bloodbyby

Milton AcornMilton Acorn

If this brain's over-If this brain's over-temperedtemperedconsider that the fire was consider that the fire was wantwantand the hammers were and the hammers were fists.fists.I've tasted my blood too I've tasted my blood too muchmuchto love what I was born to.to love what I was born to.But my mother's lookBut my mother's lookwas a field of brown oats, was a field of brown oats, soft-bearded;soft-bearded;her voice rain and air rich her voice rain and air rich with lilacs:with lilacs:and I loved her too much and I loved her too much to liketo likehow she dragged her days how she dragged her days like a sled over gravel.like a sled over gravel.

Playmates? I remember Playmates? I remember where their skulls roll!where their skulls roll!One died hungry, gnawing One died hungry, gnawing grey porch-planks;grey porch-planks;one fell, and landed so hard one fell, and landed so hard he splashed;he splashed;and many and manyand many and manycome up atom by atomcome up atom by atomin the worm-casts of Europe.in the worm-casts of Europe.My deep prayer a curse.My deep prayer a curse.My deep prayer the promise My deep prayer the promise that this won't be.that this won't be.My deep prayer my cunning,My deep prayer my cunning,my love, my anger,my love, my anger,and often even my and often even my forgivenessforgivenessthat this won't be and be.that this won't be and be.I've tasted my blood too I've tasted my blood too muchmuchto abide what I was born to.to abide what I was born to.

AnalysisAnalysis

► Theme-Theme- poverty, oppression, surviving, strengthening poverty, oppression, surviving, strengthening

oneself.oneself. ► Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

““and the hammers were fists” (personification)and the hammers were fists” (personification) ““air rich with lilacs” (personification)air rich with lilacs” (personification) ““how she dragged her days like a sled over gravel” (simile)how she dragged her days like a sled over gravel” (simile) ““I've tasted my I've tasted my bloodblood too much to abide what I was born too much to abide what I was born

to“ to“ (symbol)(symbol)

QuestionsQuestions

1.1. What does the line “I’ve tasted my blood What does the line “I’ve tasted my blood to much to abide what I was born to” to much to abide what I was born to” mean?mean?

2.2. What does the blood symbolize in this What does the blood symbolize in this poem?poem?

3.3. How does figurative language in the poem How does figurative language in the poem develope the theme?develope the theme?

Works Cited Works Cited

► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Acornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Acorn► http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/faculties/HUM/ENGL/canadahttp://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/faculties/HUM/ENGL/canada

/poet/m_acorn.htm/poet/m_acorn.htm► http://www.lovethepoem.com/poets/milton-acorn/http://www.lovethepoem.com/poets/milton-acorn/► http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/

index.htmindex.htm► http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/

poem1.htmpoem1.htm► http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/acorn/

poem5.htmpoem5.htm► http://pages.interlog.com/~gilgames/pmacorn.htmhttp://pages.interlog.com/~gilgames/pmacorn.htm