"The Blue Bowl" by Jane Kenyon

In “The Blue Bowl,” Jane Kenyon creates a tone of sorrow and longing, using imagery and sharp detail to show that dealing with the death of a pet is no easier than experiencing the passing of a family member. Her description of her own state while burying her cat brings her to level ground with the animal, showing that humans can also be “like primitives” and “bare-handed” during low points in their lives. She is saying that although we are beautiful and complex creatures, we are not always high and mighty and better than animals, contrary to what we sometimes think. She paints a beautiful picture of her cat as he goes to the grave by utilizing vivid imagery and sharp details, like his snow white feathers. She uses the weather to reflect the sorrow mood, and even when the air clears, she uses figurative language to show that the lost are not forgotten. Throughout this poem, Kenyon expertly maneuvers her words to show that our dear pets can even bring us to extreme sadness.