Poetry · Chapter
Bear and Buzzsaw explained
A humorous tall tale about a sawmill owner in Michigan whose powerful buzzsaw encounters a bear.
What happens
A humorous tall tale about a sawmill owner in Michigan whose powerful buzzsaw encounters a bear. The bear, enraged after injuring its paw on the saw, attacks and is cut in half. The narrator then uses the bear's hide, grease, and meat for practical purposes.
Themes in this chapter
Progress and Technology
The buzzsaw represents industrial machinery and its power over nature.
Nature and the Environment
The bear symbolizes wild nature confronting human industry.
Characters to notice
- James McIntyre
Narrator of the sawmill yarn, likely the poet himself.
Key passages
“I owned sawmill in Michigan, Which by water power ran; Buzzsaw possessed mighty power, Thousands of feet it cut each hour.”
The narrator owned a water-powered sawmill in Michigan with a very powerful buzzsaw that could cut thousands of feet of lumber per hour.
Establishes the setting and the impressive capability of the mill.
“When I saw big bear touch its paw Against the swift running buzzsaw; Its foot in moment it did tear, And this it did enrage the bear.”
The bear touched its paw to the fast-moving buzzsaw, which tore its foot and made the bear furious.
Inciting incident that leads to the bear's attack.
“Most wondrous sight I ever saw, It cut through centre of its jaw; Saw’s speed for moment did not fail, Cutting through its back bone and tail. In two the bear it did divide, One half did lay upon each side;”
The saw cut through the bear's jaw, backbone, and tail, splitting the bear in two, with each half falling on opposite sides.
Climactic moment where the buzzsaw defeats the bear.
“Carcass we froze and fresh bear steak We enjoyed many a week. We sewed together the bear’s hide Where the saw did skin divide; In winter warmly now I ride, ’Neath bear skin famous far and wide.”
The bear's carcass was frozen and its meat provided steaks for weeks. The hide was sewn back together and used as a warm winter blanket or robe.
Practical aftermath: using the bear for food and warmth.
“Mill cogs and shafts they ran with ease When lubricated with bear’s grease; I never shall forget strange freak, Brought nie bear’s skin and grease and steak.”
The mill's machinery ran smoothly when greased with bear fat, and the narrator remembers the strange event that provided hide, grease, and meat.
Final reflection on the usefulness of the bear in multiple ways.