Fog

Fog

          The poem "Fog" is an imagist poem meaning that it creates an image and a mood, but doesn't tell a story or express a strong emotional reponse like narrative or lyric poems traditionally do.  In addition, this free verse poem is very brief and composed of only two stanzas. The first stanza contains two lines and the second stanza contains four lines. The entire poem is basically an extended metaphor comparing fog to a cat.  Since I am used to fog, as I live in Vancouver, and since I have two cats, I can easily grasp the effectiveness of the poet's metaphor.

          In the first stanza the poet states that fog comes "on little cat feet."  This sets up the metaphor of the fog as a cat. The second stanza begins "it sits looking/ over harbour and city" meaning that the fog remains hovering for sometime, almost as if it is observing the cityscape. The next line "on silent haunches" adds to the cat metaphor, because cats ,like fog, can remain sitting, completely stationary, for hours. The last line "and then moves on" describes how very quickly and silently fog can leave, just like a cat.  There is no reason given in the poem as to why the fog leaves - the sun hasn't burned through or a strong wind hasn'ts come up - just as cats are naturally aloof and come and go as they please.

       This poem is particularly relatable to anyone who lives in a harbour city, or owns a cat. Cats can move  with utmost swiftness, and not make a sound, just like fog. Fog can be dangerous as when it obscures rocks and islets from ships, and cats can be equally dangerous, striking out with claws when suddenly provoked.  

Both fog and cats are stealthy and can move soundlessly and unexpectedly.  In comparing the fog to a cat, the poet gives the fog a sense of animation while the cat becomes even more mysterious.  It is a very powerful and effective comparison, especially as it is made in only six lines of free verse poetry.