Speaker, Setting, Imagery, and Figurative Language in Thomas Lux's “Commercial Leech Farming Today” (Essay Sample)

Name Instructor Class Date Speaker, Setting, Imagery, and Figurative Language in Thomas Lux’s “Commercial Leech Farming Today” Section One Thomas Lux’s “Commercial Leech Farming Today” is concerned with present-day farming of leeches and their medical uses, especially in artificial beauty. According to the speaker, leeches are increasingly finding uses in the present-day world and as such are acting as a source of livelihood for many. Although it is not possible to determine whether the speaker is female or male, it is possible to determine that they seem to be someone who has strong interest in the natural world of small animals, particularly insects. The speaker describes the commercial reasons behind present-day leech farming. Another bit of the speaker that can be inferred from the poem is that they seem to have an advanced aged. The reason is that the speaker has witnessed two kinds of leech family. They compare the past farming in the 19th century with the present-day technology driven leech farming. The speaker also notes that at one time in history, leech farming witnessed a decline, but it has, in the recent past, seen unprecedented increases and many people are able to make a living from this kind of farming. There are several aspects in the poem that might be used to provide information about the setting of the poem, especially in terms of economic and technological settings. First, it appears that the poem is set in a mixed farming society, which involves both livestock and farming. The speaker notes that although commercial leech farming “never rivaled wheat, soybean, / cattle and so on farming” (Lux 1-2). The speaker reference to cattle shows that this society keeps cattle, while their reference to wheat and soybean is an indication is an indication that crop farming is also practice in this society. From the poem it can be noted that this commercial farming is done in a capitalist society. This is the reason, according to speaker, why the leech farming business has seen considerable improvements recently. Second, the poem is set in a society with advanced technological capabilities. The speaker shows that there is “a living to be made” (Lux 7) to be made from commercial leech farming because of its increasing use in medical surgical procedures. Particularly, the speaker observes that leeches are “used to reduce / the blood in tissues / after plastic surgery-“ (Lux 8-10). Such plastic surgery procedures might include “eyelifts, tucks, / wrinkled erad, or in certain / microsurgeries- reattaching a finger, penis” (Lux 10-12). These observations show a society that has an advanced medical technology. Additionally, there are notable advances in the farming technology. Attributing this advance to capitalist nature of the society, the speaker notes that “as in most businesses” to be found in the capitalist world, “the technology has improved: instead / of driving an elderly horse / into a leech pond, letting him die” (Lux 13, 14-17), Biofarm is now used. Biofarm farming, according to the speaker, has “temp control, tanks, aerator / pumps, several species, / each for specific job” (Lux 23-25). Advances in medical technology has made it possible to determine the chemical composition of leeches: “hirudin, / a blood thinner in their saliva, / also an anesthesia / and dilators for the wound area” (Lux 29-32). Section Two The poem makes use of imagery and figurative language. Imagery is used to appeal to the human senses. Imagery might be visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile. Some of these forms of imagery are used in this poem. Tactile and visual images seem to be the most common in this poem. First, “plastic surgery”, “wrinkled erad”, “reattaching a finger, penis” appeal to the senses of touch and sight. The use of these images makes the description more vivid and powerful, and the uses of leech and rationale for engaging in commercial farming is made clearer. Second, the use of the words “to pick the bloated red blossoms” appeals to the senses of both touc...