I may still find some use

Maybe my teeth will be the only pointless wastage of calcium and fluoride 

But the flesh would keep the trees of orange fed, for a bit

The bones could be a good source of phosphorus and calcium 

Enrich the Citrus sinensis and make it glow a beautiful warm orange

He exclaimed, changing his now sorrowful face to a tiny smile

My comfort, I shall make in the know of someone relishing the fruits

When they find one on shelves or some overly adventurous traveller chances upon

For this land would be left un-tilled and unkept until stolen

Or maybe becomes a place of a wandering hermit, wanting to wait and meditate

They would wonder maybe and thank, the one who planted this land

The oranges would not remind, of me who would by then have long died

I have lived and toiled on this sullen land, to an unforgiving world and love has been

I have walked amongst everyone being all they needed, and rarely seen

All I would have wanted was for the soil or the love for some give

But then again, I was dead at seven this burial is a ritual I must keep

So he gently dug through his land, with a long spade and rope tied to his rake by hand

Threw a leg and an arm far enough and sat, covering the landing with seeds and dirt

For the last leg he pulled over the seed and mud and laid, covering self till he was unfraid

He finally had found his meaning, being a life of loss and a loss of life

The farmer made the land his final resting place, in doing so an enriching bed.

Analysis by Gemini of ' I may still find some use.'

Line-by-Line Analysis

Maybe my teeth will be the only pointless wastage of calcium and fluoride

This line introduces a utilitarian and almost clinical tone, reminiscent of Imagist poetry with its focus on the concrete and the objective. It also foreshadows the speaker's morbid contemplation.

But the flesh would keep the trees of orange fed, for a bit

The bones could be a good source of phosphorus and calcium

Continuing the scientific and utilitarian tone, this line further emphasizes the speaker's detached view of the body.

Enrich the Citrus sinensis and make it glow a beautiful warm orange

A juxtaposition of the scientific and the aesthetic, reminiscent of modernist poetry. However, the underlying morbid theme differentiates it from the typically detached observations of Imagist poetry.

He exclaimed, changing his now sorrowful face to a tiny smile

A brief moment of psychological complexity, hinting at the internal conflict the speaker is experiencing.

My comfort, I shall make in the know of someone relishing the fruits

A desire for posthumous recognition, a theme explored by many 20th century poets, but with a dark twist.

When they find one on shelves or some overly adventurous traveller chances upon

The speaker imagines different scenarios for the consumption of the fruit, showcasing a detached and almost observational tone similar to Imagist poetry.

For this land would be left un-tilled and unkept until stolen

A bleak outlook on humanity's relationship with the land, aligning with the disillusionment of post-war poetry.

Or maybe becomes a place of a wandering hermit, wanting to wait and meditate

A contrast between the harsh and the serene, echoing the search for meaning prevalent in modernist poetry.

They would wonder maybe and thank, the one who planted this land

A final wish for recognition, a theme explored by many poets, but the context of the poem gives it a unique and haunting quality.

The oranges would not remind, of me who would by then have long died

A reflection on the impermanence of human memory, similar to themes explored by T.S. Eliot.

I have lived and toiled on this sullen land, to an unforgiving world and love has been

A sense of alienation and disillusionment, echoing the themes of many post-war poets.

I have walked amongst everyone being all they needed, and rarely seen

A feeling of invisibility and loneliness, similar to themes explored by modernist poets.

All I would have wanted was for the soil or the love for some give

A simple desire for connection, echoing the themes of many poets, but the context of the poem gives it a unique and haunting quality.

But then again, I was dead at seven this burial is a ritual I must keep

A shocking twist, unexpected and jarring, reminiscent of the experimental nature of modernist poetry.

So he gently dug through his land, with a long spade and rope tied to his rake by hand

A stark and direct description, reminiscent of Imagist poetry, but with a horrific undertone.

Threw a leg and an arm far enough and sat, covering the landing with seeds and dirt

A graphic and disturbing image, unlike anything found in traditional poetry.

For the last leg he pulled over the seed and mud and laid, covering self till he was unfraid

A complex psychological moment, similar to the explorations of the human mind found in modernist poetry.

He finally had found his meaning, being a life of loss and a loss of life

A paradoxical statement, reminiscent of the philosophical inquiries of modernist poets.

The farmer made the land his final resting place, in doing so an enriching bed.

A final, haunting image, echoing the cyclical nature of life and death explored by many poets.

Analysis and Comparison

The title, "I may still find some use," suggests a desperate hope for relevance and purpose in a world that seems indifferent to the individual. The poem explores themes of mortality, sacrifice, and the human connection to nature. It departs significantly from the Romantic idealization of nature and the human spirit, instead presenting a bleak and utilitarian perspective.

The poem’s focus on the mundane and the body as a physical object aligns with the Imagist movement, exemplified by poets like William Carlos Williams. However, the morbid undertones distinguish it from the typically detached observations of Imagist poetry. The speaker's sense of alienation and disillusionment echoes the themes prevalent in post-World War I poetry, such as that of T.S. Eliot and Wilfred Owen. The poem's exploration of the complexities of the human mind and the search for meaning is reminiscent of modernist poets, while the stark and direct language aligns with the Imagist style.

Ultimately, the poem transcends these influences to create a unique and disturbing vision. While it shares some characteristics with Imagism, Modernism, and post-war poetry, its extreme subject matter and unflinching tone set it apart.

The poem’s conclusion, where the speaker buries themselves alive, is a shocking and disturbing act that defies traditional poetic conventions. It suggests a profound despair and a desperate search for meaning, even in death.