Destructive Nature
“In the Deep Channel” is a poem about the naturally-destructive nature of the catfish that trawl seabed and move with the currents in deep channels. The narrator appears to be sharing the perspective of local fishermen and trawlers, who use the deep channels for their income. When the currents bring the catfish through the channels, however, the fishermen suffer, because the catfish destroy the fishing lines and nets. In this way, this is a poem about the fact that nature has a unique capacity to destroy that which is human-made. Though humans tend to view this as a nuisance, we rarely consider the fact that we have invaded the natural habitats of other God-given creatures, like the catfish. Rather ironically, therefore, it is our own fault when nature destroys our creations.
Reliability
In “Accountability,” the narrator compares and contrasts two differing scenarios. In the first, the narrator discusses truck drivers, who have all gathered in an empty stretch of land to rest their cars and minds. This stretch of land is held accountable by these many drivers who consistently stop here in the company of each other. This empty stretch of land, which is always occupied by these truck drivers, can be relied upon to always lead to other cities and towns, which is why the truckers hold it accountable. A library is held similarly accountable, as people rely on it for research and poetry and leisure. Just as the truck drivers rely on the accountability of stretches of road, so too do citizens rely upon local libraries to provide culture and literature to its readers.
The Suffering of the Selfless
In “Bess,” the narrator describes the selfless nature that was exhibited by a woman named Bess in her final year of living. After being diagnosed with cancer, Bess chooses not to tell those that are close to her about this diagnosis. Instead, she listens to their grief and their sufferings and their complaints without once considering her own needs. The narrator explains that, in that final year, she suffered greatly and was in pain due to the cancer. In spite of her tremendous suffering, she still remained selfless and dedicated to others until the very end. In this way, her selflessness caused her to suffer even further, as she never burdened others with her grief.
