Analysis of Symbology: Anthem by Buck Ramsey

Written by

Tom Darby

in

And in the morning I was riding
Out through the breaks of that long plain,
And leather creaking in the quieting
Would sound with trot and trot again.
I lived in time with horse hoof falling;
I listened well and heard the calling.
The earth, my mother, bade to me,
Though I would still ride wild and free.
And as I flew out on the morning,
Before the bird, before the dawn,
I was the poem, I was the song.
My heart would beat the world a warning—
Those horsemen now rode all with me,
And we were good, and we were free.

  1. “I lived in time with horse hoof falling…”

The rhythmic beat of the horse hooves represents a connection to nature and the passage of time. It symbolizes a harmonious existence with the land and the creatures that inhabit it.

  1. “…and heard the calling…”

The “calling” suggests a deeper, spiritual connection between the rider and the land. It could signify a sense of purpose or destiny as if the earth itself is beckoning the rider forward.

  1. “…I was the poem, I was the song.”

This line emphasizes the idea that the rider is intrinsically linked to the natural world. The rider becomes a living embodiment of the landscape, a part of the greater poetic tapestry of the frontier.

  1. “My heart would beat the world a warning…”

The heart beating as a warning suggests a heightened sense of awareness and vigilance. It may symbolize a protector’s instinct, a readiness to face challenges, or a call to action in the face of adversity.

  1. “Those horsemen now rode all with me…”

The presence of the horsemen could represent a collective spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose among those who roam the open range. It may symbolize a shared ethos and a sense of belonging to a greater community of riders.

  1. “…And we were good, and we were free.”

This line encapsulates the ultimate symbolism of the poem. “Good” could represent a sense of moral integrity and respect for the land and its creatures. “Free” embodies the essence of the frontier spirit, the yearning for independence, and the untamed nature of the open range.

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