Root Celler

 Summary

“Root Cellar” by Theodore Roethke is a poem about a dingy cellar, way too dark and musty, incapable of supporting any living form within. But the cellar plants did not lose hope and fight for survival. Nobody is trained enough to live for a day in that cellar as it is so suffocating. It reeks of dying plants.

The bulbs peep outside of the boxes in search of a small ray of light, “hunting for chinks in the dark.” The herbs are “lolling obscenely,” thus seeming lifeless. There is an intolerable “congress of stinks,” a collection of foul odors. Everything in that cellar is on the verge of rotting, suggesting the end of life. Microbes and other creatures started to decompose the living parts. Hence, there is a buildup of molds and fungi, which can be seen in the scenery of the stinking cellar.

However, towards the end of the poem, Roethke voices the message of fighting back. He portrays the image of determination and courage to fight the odds one faces in life through the lines, “Nothing would give up life:/ Even the dirt kept breathing a small breath.”

Meaning

Roethke’s “Root Cellar” is a motivational poem that spreads the message to live and thrive even through the worst, deadly scenarios in life. One should not lose hope and grow along the way, clearing all the hurdles that may come. To describe this concept, Roethke describes a root cellar/greenhouse where all the plants are on the brink of dying. Foul odors filled the place, making it impossible for one to breathe. In fact, none can imagine living in that place. However, the plants still fight for the light, struggling for existence. After watching the scene, it seems to the speaker that even the “dirt” refuses to stop breathing.

Structure & Form

This short poem is full of images that evoke the sense of smell, taste, sight, and touch. The title of the poem suggests a cellar, stagnant and dingy with old, ripe roots that excel to survive in that tough and dark environment of the cellar/greenhouse. This free-verse poem specifically highlights the lush, undisturbed, and unhindered budding of life in the poet’s paternal greenhouse. It is enriched with organic imagery of the plants grown there.

Roethke intentionally chooses an odd diction to create a tone of disgust and revulsion. The overall tone of the poem seems to be inspirational and upbeat, highlighting the indomitable will of the living things. This poem follows no regular meter; there are just some shreds of evidence of slant rhyme like “crates,” “snakes,” and “planks.”