Chainsaw versus the pampas grass

what is the poem about

The speakers destroying the grass with a chainsaw 

However despite the chainsaw's destructive power the grass regrows - highlights the endurance of what the speaker tries to suppress

• The poem makes the task more about masculine aggression, violence and the futility of trying to dominate nature/femininity 

what are the key themes

• Masculine power vs feminine resilience

  • the violent chainsaw fails to destroy the pampas grass

• Man vs nature

• Toxic masculinity

What does the poem critique about toxic masculanity - ultimately revealing its failure

its need to aggressively posture and dominate

what does the poem suggest about feminine/natural forces

they endure and regenerate despite destruction

what does the poem show about power built on aggression

its ultimately hollow and powerless

what does the free verse and irregular stanza length’s chaotic form reflect

the unstable power

how does the tone shift

It begins exhilarated by destruction but becomes faded by the end

what lexical fields are created

• violence

• nature

• masculinity

• femininity