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This poem remarks on the cold indifference the world displays toward the meaningful events of men’s lives. The underlying message of Out, Out states that, however great an impact an event may have on a man’s life, individual human affairs are insignificant to the rest of the world. Looking at the big picture, nature and the remainder of mankind are unaffected by the happenings of a single life. The setting of the poem is Vermont, or somewhere near, in a yard where people are working and a boy is chopping stove wood with a buzz-saw. The speaker describes the buzz-saw as one would describe an angry dog in a metal box: snarling and rattling. Then the scenery is described—from the “sweet-scented breeze” to the five mountain ranges under the setting sun in Vermont, great serenity and majesty is portrayed. Then the focus is reverted to the buzz-saw, which is continuing to emit harsh, animal-like noises. The speaker points out that the day is merely spending itself; nothing actually happens. He or she hopes that an anonymous party referred to as “they” will announce the end of the day, or at least give them a 30-minute break. For the first time, the boy of the poem is referred to, and the speaker wishes for the break for the boy’s sake. Then, as the boy’s sister calls everyone to supper, the buzz-saw in the boy’s hand jumps out and cuts his hand off. The boy cries out, and then holds up his mangled hand to the other workers, knowing that he would have to have it cut off. He is old enough to know this; “he is a big boy doing a man’s work,” even though he is still very young in his heart.
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