What does the log signifies in the poem THE COLD WITHIN BY JAMES PATRICK KINNEY???????
Answers
In the poem, The Cold within, the logs of wood symbolize the possessions or attributes of people. Here, logs of wood depict the feeling of compassion, intellectual abilities of a person. As logs of wood are used in fire, to give warmth, in the same way people can use their mind and emotions to keep the warmth and love alive. In the poem, people did not have logs of wood.
The log in the poem signifies man's selfishness, greed, prejudice, hatred, animosity, and lack of initiative to share his belongings with others.
Each man suffers from any one of the flaws of character mentioned above. He is not willing to take the first step to kindle the light and warmth of love and cooperation as his mind is full of negativity. He is suffering from the banes of caste, color, creed, nationality, and religion.
The entire poem is a metaphor for the prevalent conditions in the contemporary world.