Hello Mr Stewart, I have done my essay on Afternoon with Irish Cows and decided that it would

be a good idea to highlight the different parts of my paragraphs, so that if my conception of, for
example, the point or the zoom out is incorrect, you can tell me :) Also, I have tried to keep the
zooming ins and outs smaller, like you suggested me to do, narrow down the ideas instead of
writing endless paragraphs.

Point
Evidence
Explain
Zoom in
Zoom out (alternative meaning, context and personal reflection)

Explore how Collins creates such vivid impressions of the cows in this poem.

Afternoon with Irish Cows is a contemporary poem written by Billy Collins in which the author
describes the amazement and intrigue the speaker feels towards a group of cows. Via the
creation of powerful sound imagery and the use of rhetorical and structural devices, Collins
explores the themes of perception and nature by creating vivid impressions of the cows
throughout the poem.

In the final line of the first stanza Collins creates powerful impressions of the cows with the use
of consonance, enjambment and a simile. For instance, “as if they had taken wing, flown off to
another country” illustrates the quirky fugacity of the cows and how despite apparently being so
big and lazy, they escape from the speaker’s sight in a blink of an eye. This idea is heightened
by the consonance of the f sound which creates the effect of the cows being light like the wind,
and the use of a simile to draw the reader’s attention and create a sense of surprise in him/her.
Moreover, the use of the enjambment adds a sense of quickness and elusiveness to the
action.The key noun “flown” introduces the idea that there is something more to the cows than
meets the eye, something magical and mysterious. An alternative reading could suggest that
this quotation is an example of Collin’s humour as he is known for witty and humorous poems.

Furthermore, in the second stanza, the poet crafts potent perceptions of the cows with the use
of a triclon, diacope and assonance. A pertinent example of this is, “ How mysterious, how
patient and dumbfounded”, which serves as a detailed description of the persona's impressions
on the cows. The triclon of adjectives enhances the description, painting a clear image on the
reader's mind. Additionally, the diacope produced by the repetition of “how” illustrates the state
of huge awe in which the speaker is while observing the cows. The resonance of the “ow” sound
builds on the theme of mystery while emulating the action of lowing, captivating the reader. The
key adjective dumbfounded has denotations of shock and surprise, however it may connote how
the cows appear “dumb-” and foolish, but when found (“-founded”) by the speaker, they are
extraordinary and suprising. Personally, this line acts as a great way to convey deep
conceptions of the cows before a shift in the action.
Notably, the poet continues to convey solid and strong impressions of the cows in the third
stanza, this time by utilizing a wide range of literary devices such as consonance, repetitions
and ceasurae. This is especially evident in, “yes it sounded like pain until I could see the noisy
one, anchored there on all fours''. The sound emanating from the cow is so remarkable and out
of the ordinary, the speaker thinks it’s caused by pain, which gives the effect of the cows being
unique and marvelous .This idea of the cows’ magnificence is further developed by the
consonance of the r sound in “anchored there” as it remarks the sheer of the cows. In particular,
the key verb “see” is significant as, aided by the enjambment between lines, it connotes the
significance of the cows. Cows seem mundane animals, but the speaker observes them with
great attention. On the other hand, the affirmative adverb “yes” provides a strange way to open
a stanza, captivating the reader. This can also be seen as another example of Collins’ style,
which further also attraps the reader by creating a sort of conversation between him/her and the
personna.

In the last stanza the poem reaches its climax in which the author, with the use of language and
literary techniques, develops rich impressions of the cows. A prime example of this is, “Then I
knew that she was only announcing the large unadulterated cowness of herself”, in which the
poet transmits the poem's message to the reader. “Then I knew” portrays how watching the
cows have given the speaker inspiration and understanding, augmenting the importance and
grandeur of these animals. Furthermore, “large”, elevated by the enjambment, further develops
the idea of the cows’ power and prominence. The key phrase“Unadulterated cowness”
juxtaposes the habitual conception of cows, as it depicts them as pure and refined. On the other
hand, the neologism “cowness” is one of Collin’s anthropomorphisms, which catches the
reader's attention. Consequently, Collins is able to transmit the main ideas and message of the
poem; appearances can be deceiving.

To conclude, Collin’s does an outstanding job by creating a poem that, not only is it fun to read,
but also presents deeper ideas. The cows first appear as boring and common animals; however,
as the poem develops, the scream of one of them makes both speaker and reader find
comprehension on ordinary beings. Ultimately, Collins’ purpose is to demonstrate why to not
judge a book by its cover.