Concrete Mixers: Urban Elephants in the City
Examination of Figurative Language in "Concrete Mixers" by Patricia Hubbell
In the poem "Concrete Mixers," Patricia Hubbell uses a rich tapestry of figurative language to compare the concrete mixers to elephants. The parts of the mixers are likened to elephant-bellied and elephant-nosed, emphasizing their large, robust structures. These machines are described as standing in muck, akin to how elephants might stand in their habitat.
The drivers of the mixers are compared to mahouts, which are elephant trainers and caretakers, as they 'perch on their backs' and control the powerful equipment. This comparison establishes a parallel between the construction environment and the natural strength and grandeur of elephants.
The mixers moving, bellowing, and spraying water are all actions that mirror the behaviors of these majestic animals. This figurative language not only creates vivid imagery but also imparts a sense of might and purpose to the urban construction scene. The concreteness of the imagery draws the reader into the experience and allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the mundane through the grandiose comparisons.
By drawing these comparisons, Hubbell effectively uses figurative language to transform a common urban sight into a spectacle of nature's power. The physicality of the mixers and their association with elephants render the poem more impactful, engaging the reader's senses and imagination. This connection between man-made construction and natural strength underlines the resilience and significance of urban development, symbolically raised by the 'trunks' of these 'urban elephants.'