Sheep in Fog-- A poem by Sylvia Plath

 

The title of this poem Sheep in Fog alludes to the foggy quality of life. Life lacks clarity. The future lacks clarity. There is uncertainty in life. Our future is indefinite. Sheep in Fog is us humans. Sylvia Plath is aware of being disappointing to people or people who are like stars. Theme of missing her father. Heaven is a place where her star like father is there. A flower left out. Not included in the train going to heaven? Heaven without father or star is like a dark water.  A yearning for heaven; a yearning for approval, a yearning for the unconditional love of the father. Sylvia Plath says a train leaves a line of breath. calls a train a slow horse which is the color of rust.  The train which is like a slow horse has hooves and contains sorrow and is mournful and blackens the morning. Train reflects the journey quality of life. Travelling to a destination.  The destination is unclear, foggy. Not sure. Uncertain. Inside of her she is still. Train reflects movement. Bones hold a stillness. The distant fields are moving to the poetess. The hills seem threatening. Not comforting. They may take her to a place where her father is not there. That is why life is foggy. And the morning black and the train like a sorrowful slow horse. And the water dark.