45."The Hound" - pg. 62 - 63

      In this poem, Robert Francis begins with introducing life as a "hound." This is a use of figurative language - particularly a metaphor due to the statement that life is a hound. Francis uses this type of figurative language to describe life as unpredictable. "I cannot tell/The hound's intent/till he has sprung/At my bare hand/With teeth or tongue" (63). Here, Francis describes his uncertainty as to what the hound's intentions are. Is it going to snap? Or will it show affection? He does not know until the hound has began to take action. This is a direct representation of his uncertainties of his future. He cannot predict what exactly will happen, he can only assume. The only way he will know something for sure, is when the time comes for it to happen. "Meanwhile I stand/And wait the event" (63). He must wait for the "hound" to bite, or to lick his hand. Therefore, he must wait for the future to unfold.
     Another device used to create the overall tone of the poem is the simplistic structure of the poem. The abrupt, short lines create an unfinished, uncertain feeling. They are not complete thoughts, and contain a small amount of syllables.This tone contributes to the overall meaning of the poem, which is the concept of life's unpredictability, and the uncertain elements of the future. "Life the Hound/Equivocal/Comes at bound" (62). Here exemplifies the brief, short style of the poem. The metaphor, which is the foundation of the poem, is expressed in a three word line, and then described with one word. It is abrupt and straightforward - not creating much of an explanation through tremendous detail. Therefore, it gives of a sense of being in as state of the present, unable to predict the direction of the following lines.
     Overall, I appreciate the entire poem. I particularly found the metaphor to be intriguing, and the way Francis relates life to the actions of a hound. I enjoy the simplicity of the poem, which gives it an edge, a rawness. For me, that is the best structure to allow me to grasp the concept of the work. I can also relate to the idea of life's unpredictability, because there is absolutely no way of knowing the exact future for certain. One must wait for the event they are anticipating to occur in order to know the future.