The Prodigal

‘the brown enormous odour he lived by was too close … for him to judge’ – sensuous imagery; the exile lives so close to the pigs he can’t view them objectively

‘the sty was plastered halfway up with glass-smooth dung’ – emphasises how low he has sunk; he is reduced to a bestial existence

‘the pigs’ eyes followed him, a cheerful stare’ – they are companions, and is almost accepted by them

‘he hid the pints behind a two-by-four’ – he tries to fool himself about his drinking

‘the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red’ – Bishop commends the human spirit; he sees beauty even in his world

‘he almost might endure his exile yet another year or more’ – he resigns himself to another year, not quite ready to face reality

‘but’ – a change of mood; maybe there’s hope?

‘evenings the first star came to warn’ – personified star (cf. Bethlehem) warns him he’s on the wrong path

‘to shut the cows and horses in the barn’ – emphasises isolation and alienation; even the farmer doesn’t talk to him

‘safe and companionable as in the Ark’ – another biblical reference

‘the lantern … laid on the mud a pacing aureole’ – the ‘halo’ gives him a sense of hope

‘the bats’ uncertain staggering flight’ – he is staggering through life with an uncertain purpose and future

‘his shuddering insights … touching him’ – a new self-awareness; his life is not right

‘but it took him a long time to make his mind up’ – last line is optimistic but ambiguous; this is only the start of his recovery

‘home’ – could be those that he has left behind, or even the society of human beings which he has been exiled from