Close Reading and Analysis of Cobby Eckermann's Poem 'Unearth'

This essay offers a close reading of Cobby Eckermann's poem 'Unearth,' focusing on the use of metaphors to explore themes of memory, the past, and the process of excavation. The analysis delves into how Eckermann uses the concept of digging as a central metaphor, representing the act of uncovering and confronting the past. It examines the poem's figurative language, including the comparison of digging to a 'movement' that 'stirs up bones,' and how this relates to unearthing historical details and ancestral legacies. The essay also discusses the poem's use of antithesis, hyperbole, and metonymy to create a rich and complex understanding of the mind's journey through time and memory. Furthermore, it critiques the potential damages of excavating the past and the impact of uncovering unpleasant truths. The analysis concludes by emphasizing the poem's use of language techniques to allow the reader to create a perspective shaped on reality.

Assessment 1
Close Reading Unearth by Cobby Eckermann

The poem Unearth by Cobby Eckermann uses a number of metaphors to describe the process of
digging (Eckermann, 2015). In the normal usage, it implies to excavate, extract, pull out or bring
up to the surface. Digging as a metaphor presents a figure of speech that compares something
with reality and applies one reference to another. Examples of metaphors is an expression or
phrase with reference to another. For example “digging up the soil to excavate the past”
represents flashback or a desperate search from the past. Its paragraphs focus on digging as a
“movement”… that…”stirs up their bones”. It describes the effect of the action using an
expression. It describes unearthing not in the sense of removing from the ground but as a symbol
of removing from the past. In this case, it means to discover or to find out details of the past. The
poem unveils the power of the mind and what happens when the mind travels back into time.
In the poem, the author uses metaphorical speech to create an image of reality. For example,
“breathe life into the bodies of our ancestors” gives the impression of unearthing the historical
past. In order to juggle the mind of the listener, the poem uses the figurative language. It refers
to memories of the past as critical in shaping the present. In this case, digging brings to reality
issues of the past in order to bring out the changes. It points at digging in an aggressive act that
“whips up dust storms” in order to stir up the memory with the reality. Digging comes out as
search process that rummages and nudges in order to delve into the realms of truths. It seeks for
more with details of the future. Digging as a representation comes a statement of the situation
giving an idea of something imaginable.
Digging also provides an antithesis giving differences between what is real and what is not. In
reality, digging serves as a process of covering evidence. It searches for truths and seals it.
However, in “Unearth” implies exposing. Instead of digging to conceal the past the poem talks
about a ‘return to memory’ using excavation holes. This emphasis on continuous digging takes

time and effort until it comes to the truth. Researching into the depths of a matter may also go
into the future. The poem states that the future hope is everlasting yet diggings seems limited to
the past record.
As a hyperbole or exaggeration, the digging process is an exaggeration representing a desperate
search process. This is similar to expressions used by Harrisons (2007, p, 101) which talks of a
city with modern technology and electricity yet ‘no city water’. Unearthing as the theme of the
poem speaks of a perception of the natural context used to give a sense of identification.
Connecting the past memory to ancestors and excavation holes as loss of memory or legacy
criticizes the power of the mind and its ability to handle the dirty truths. It points out that
excavating into the past is likely to cause a damage to the future, especially when things are
different or “language is changed”. Digging into people’s legacy places judgement on them
based on what their ancestors did instead of what they are at present and what they can become
in the future. Excavating comes up with the good and the bad. Sometimes it becomes urgly.
The use of metaphor as a metonymy means substituting the normal reference. In the poem,
unearth is a representation of recalling from memory. It replaces digging as a word characterized
by movement made in the earth with inquiry into the past. The close association with the real
concept gives it a clearer perspective. For example stating “excavation holes are dug in the mind
“means coming to terms with reality. It implies trying to fill in the gaps with the discovery of the
unpleasant truths. It refers to objects and the theory of excavating that changes the meaning in
methodological attempts. It may appear as the elimination of truths by an emerging phenomenon.
In conclusion, Unearth is a metaphorical poem that uses the figurative to express the poetic. Its
use of figure of speech highlights the natural in a contextual form. A metaphor is a representation
of truth. It may substitute, critique or exaggerate. In order to spice up the poem, the poet uses

language techniques that allow the reader to create a perspective shaped on the reality. This may
deviate from normalcy but it brings out the picture with clarity.

Bibliography
Eckermann, C., 2015. Unearth, s.l.: Giramondo Publishing.
Harrison, M., 2007. Country and how to Get There. Who Wants to Create Australia?.
s.l.:Halstead Press.