The drill sergeant or instructor that is speaking is using the swivels as the symbolism of the foundation of the branches of the trees. This symbolism is showing the reader the swivels are an important part of the rifle as it is what holds the sling to rifle just as the branches are what holds the garden in their “silent, eloquent gestures”. The recruits or soldiers have not received the slings yet so at this point they do have the ability to secure the weapon to their body. The third stanza talks about the safety-catch on the weapon. The instructor goes through the proper way to release the safety-catch “with an easy flick of the thumb”. The safety is compared to the beauty of the blossoms in the garden. Reed talks about the sensitivity of the safety and blossoms. The blossoms are “fragile and motionless” just as the safety should be released in the same manner. The safety is sensitive to touch and the blossoms are described as being fragile in garden as well, this shows another example of symbolism of sensitivity between the safety and
The drill sergeant or instructor that is speaking is using the swivels as the symbolism of the foundation of the branches of the trees. This symbolism is showing the reader the swivels are an important part of the rifle as it is what holds the sling to rifle just as the branches are what holds the garden in their “silent, eloquent gestures”. The recruits or soldiers have not received the slings yet so at this point they do have the ability to secure the weapon to their body. The third stanza talks about the safety-catch on the weapon. The instructor goes through the proper way to release the safety-catch “with an easy flick of the thumb”. The safety is compared to the beauty of the blossoms in the garden. Reed talks about the sensitivity of the safety and blossoms. The blossoms are “fragile and motionless” just as the safety should be released in the same manner. The safety is sensitive to touch and the blossoms are described as being fragile in garden as well, this shows another example of symbolism of sensitivity between the safety and