# Land Clearing explained — Poetry > Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre. ## What happens A first-person account of clearing land in early spring by burning stumps and brush, which nearly leads to a wildfire that threatens a house and barn. The narrator learns a hard lesson about the dangers of fire while also observing the awakening of wildlife. ## Themes in this chapter ### Pioneer and Settler Struggles The hard labor and risk of land clearing, including the danger of uncontrolled fire, illustrate the challenges faced by early settlers. ### Nature and the Environment The description of fire spreading through dry woods and the awakening of snakes and bull frogs highlights the settler's interaction with the natural world. ## Character check-ins ### James McIntyre Narrator and protagonist, tasked with clearing a field by burning stumps. ### Bill Brown Friend who leaves for a barn raising, instructing the narrator to clear stumps. ## Key lines > The first winter which I did spend In Canada was with a friend, And when the snow had passed away Quite early in the month of May. I spent my first Canadian winter with a friend, and after the snow melted in early May... _Sets the seasonal context for the land clearing work._ > Friend started off for a barn raising, And told me to get stumps ablazing, Around each stump I heaped a pile Of roots and junks of wood so vile. My friend went to a barn raising and instructed me to burn the stumps by piling roots and wood around them. _Describes the method of stump removal and the friend's departure._ > For he wished the field to clear So it a crop of wheat would rear, And there was one high withered pine Which was full of turpentine. He wanted the field cleared to grow wheat, and one tall dead pine was full of flammable turpentine. _Explains the purpose of clearing and the hazard of the pine tree._ > As soon as I applied the torch, Blaze quick did start and it did scorch The fences, and the woods were nigh, For the old tree it blazed on high. When I lit the torch, the fire spread quickly, scorching fences and nearby woods as the pine blazed upward. _The fire quickly gets out of control._ > I was the only man or boy Near there that day and found employ In saving of the house and barn, Thus early fire fiend did me warn. I was alone and had to work hard to save the house and barn, learning a harsh lesson about fire. _The narrator's solitary struggle and the moral warning._ > Fire started and with it a breeze Carried the sparks ’mong leaves of trees, I did work hard but for recompense All was saved but a few rails of fence. A breeze carried sparks into the trees, but I managed to save everything except a few fence rails. _The outcome of the fire: minimal damage but a close call._ > Man in spring logging oft awakes From winter slumbers nests of snakes, And listens to the music grand Of bull frogs, our Canadian band. In spring, logging often disturbs hibernating snakes, and one can hear the loud chorus of bullfrogs, Canada's natural band. _A reflective ending on the seasonal awakening of wildlife._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/land-clearing - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters