'Hunger' by Billy Collins

Hunger
by Billy Collins

The fox you lug over your shoulder
in a dark sack
has cut a hole with a knife 
and escaped.

The sudden lightness makes you think 
you are stronger 
as you walk back to your small cottage 
through a forest that covers the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_ATQ_hliKk
(this is the youtube link to the poem read by Billy Collins)

Billy Collins poem 'Hunger' is a short poem which blurs the lines between what is real and what is imaginary with the involvement of symbols. Foxes have two contrasting symbolic theories. The first symbol is the most common, the fox is believed to be a very cunning trickster. However the second symbol describes the fox to be a noble guide and messenger who is honored for it's wisdom. The polarity between the two symbols leaves the reader to their own interpretation on how positive or negative the fox is in this poem. Moreover, the "dark sack" is a literal illustration of the things we "carry" with us in the journey of life. In this case it would be success as a fox is not an easy prey that you have outwitted. Nonetheless, the barer of this success becomes arrogant when he mistakes his loss for strength. In his sack he contained both his success (the fox) and his misgivings (the knife). This leads to his misgivings giving way for his success to "escape" and become void. It returns to "the forest that covers the world". When we look at the description of a "small cottage" in contrast to a "forest that covers the world" it reminds us that no matter how grand our accomplishments are we are all just a small part of a wider planet. No matter what esteem you may hold your success or yourself in the end you are no more significant than any other. The forest symbolizes mystery and fairy tales as it is inhabited by a variety of creatures and species. It is also a place of death, danger and the testing of character as it holds the secrets of nature. The forest is also the home of the out laws, this would explain the relation with the fox and according to Celtic realm "the fox knows the woods intimacy". The cottage also symbolizes human modernization as an opposition to the nature of the forest. Lets look at the definition of hunger; "a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat" or better yet "to have a strong desire or craving". (I guess we wont be having fox tonight.) I believe the second definition is more suitable. Therefore the title describes the strong desire or craving of success. All in all, I believe the poem is talking about the end of success at the beginning of arrogance and isolation. 
By Sekela Thambikeni