In the poem "Filling Station", E. Bishop describes in detail a family run business. "Oh but it is dirty!"(1). Bishop begins the poem with this exclamatory statement, immediately painting a negative picture of an "oil-soaked, oil-permeated" (3), little filling station. Bishop gives vivid details concerning the appearance of the business, then enables the reader to see past the ugliness to find the love of a family within.
Using short lines and elaborate detail Bishop takes us into the filling station. She describes a father in his "oil-soaked monkey suit"(5) and "his greasy sons assist him"(11). These lines allow the reader to visualize a family run business. The word "Dirty" is repeated three times in the first two paragraphs alone, showing the extent of disdain she feels just being in such an atmosphere. Bishop then goes on to question if this family resides here. "Do they live at the station?"(14). "It has a cement porch behind the pumps"(15/16).
The poem turns when Bishop begins to describe what appear to be loving, feminine touches placed throughout the porch. There are comic books, "they lie upon a big, dim doily"(23/24) and even "a big hirsute begonia"(27). There is also a dirty dog comfortably lying on a wicker sofa. The placement of these items contradict her initial reaction to her surroundings, allowing the reader to begin to see beyond the unpleasantness and imagine, instead, a home.
"Somebody embroidered the doily"(34). "Somebody waters the plant"(35) These statements allow the reader to imagine who could have placed these items here. Perhaps there is a Wife, Mother or Sister who cares for these things, who cares for these men. This is, after all, a family-run business.
The poem ends with a bold statement "Somebody loves us all", which is meant to remind the reader that everyone, no matter what their circumstances, has someone that loves them.
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