In the poem Warren Pryor by Alden Nowlan, it says "his axe-hewn hands upon the paper bills aching with empty strength and throttled rage." What does that mean?

Warren Pryor

by Alden Nowlan

When every pencil meant a sacrifice
his parents boarded him at a school in town,
slaving to free him from the stony fields,
the meagre acreage that bore them down.

They blushed with pride when, at his graduation,
they watched him picking up the slender scroll,
his passport from the years of brutal toil
and lonely patience in a barren hole.

When he went in the Bank their cups ran over.
They marvelled how he wore a milk-white shirt
work days and jeans on Sundays. He was saved
from their thistle-strewn farm and its red dirt.

And he said nothing. Hard and serious
like a young bear inside his teller's cage,
his axe-hewn hands upon the paper bills
aching with empty strength and throttled rage.


Overall, this poem seems to be about parents who worked hard with their hands and didn't have much income, but who sacrificed to put their son through the best schools they could find. They intended to "save" their son from having to work the "stony fields … thistle-strewn farm and its red dirt."

The son went along with it all, excelled in school, graduated, and got a teller's job in "the Bank" — made his parents proud and happy. BUT apparently he didn't like it! The image at the end (to me) is one of a big guy with huge hands, meant to work a farm, but instead is now handling paper money (bills). It seems he'd rather be using his strong hands out on the farm.

Thank you.

You’re welcome!

In the poem "Warren Pryor" by Alden Nowlan, the line "his axe-hewn hands upon the paper bills aching with empty strength and throttled rage" can be understood by breaking it down into its different components.

First, "axe-hewn hands" refers to Warren Pryor's hands, which suggests that he has been working physically demanding labor. The word "axe-hewn" implies the idea of his hands being rough and calloused from hard work, possibly as a lumberjack or someone who works with wood. This imagery symbolizes the physical toll that his job takes on him.

The phrase "upon the paper bills" refers to Warren Pryor's interaction with money, which is represented by paper bills. It suggests that he has been working diligently, perhaps to earn a decent income or support his family. The use of the word "upon" indicates that his hands are placed upon the money, possibly implying the importance of money and the weight it carries in his life.

The phrase "aching with empty strength" suggests that despite Warren Pryor's physical labor, his sense of strength is unfulfilled or lacking. It conveys the idea that his hard work does not bring him the satisfaction or fulfillment he desires. This line may reflect a sense of frustration or disappointment regarding the impact of his efforts.

Finally, the phrase "throttled rage" implies that Warren Pryor's emotions are repressed or suppressed. It suggests that his frustration and resentment are held back, possibly due to societal expectations or personal constraints. This line suggests a feeling of pent-up anger that is not fully expressed or addressed.

Overall, this line describes Warren Pryor's lamentable situation of physical exhaustion, unfulfilled strength, and suppressed rage despite his hard work. It highlights the impact of societal pressure and the struggle to find personal fulfillment despite external appearances.