DER MANN IM KELLER by Eugene Field: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
A man relaxes in a wine cellar, happily sipping cup after cup, feeling a warm sense of goodwill toward everyone around him.
The poem
How cool and fair this cellar where My throne a dusky cask is; To do no thing but just to sing And drown the time my task is. The cooper he's Resolved to please, And, answering to my winking, He fills me up Cup after cup For drinking, drinking, drinking. Begrudge me not This cosy spot In which I am reclining-- Why, who would burst With envious thirst, When he can live by wining. A roseate hue seems to imbue The world on which I'm blinking; My fellow-men--I love them when I'm drinking, drinking, drinking. And yet I think, the more I drink, It's more and more I pine for-- Oh, such as I (forever dry) God made this land of Rhine for; And there is bliss In knowing this, As to the floor I'm sinking: I've wronged no man And never can While drinking, drinking, drinking.
A man relaxes in a wine cellar, happily sipping cup after cup, feeling a warm sense of goodwill toward everyone around him. The more he drinks, the more he craves, but he comforts himself with the thought that a tipsy person can't harm anyone. It's a playful, somewhat self-aware toast to wine—and a lighthearted nod to the justifications people come up with for their indulgences.
Line-by-line
How cool and fair this cellar where / My throne a dusky cask is;
Begrudge me not / This cosy spot
And yet I think, the more I drink, / It's more and more I pine for--
Tone & mood
The tone is cheerful, self-mocking, and a bit tipsy — which is precisely the point. Field portrays the speaker as genuinely happy, steering clear of any tragic or desperate vibes. An amusing irony flows throughout the poem: the speaker's logic becomes increasingly absurd as the stanzas progress, reflecting the influence of the wine. It never veers into dark or preachy territory; Field maintains a playful spirit from start to finish.
Symbols & metaphors
- The cellar — The cellar is the speaker's personal sanctuary, shielded from the pressures and opinions of the outside world. Its cool, dark atmosphere creates a sense of escape—a space where time and obligations can't intrude.
- The cask as throne — Calling a wine barrel a throne is the main joke of the poem. It turns drinking into a regal and dignified act, but the ridiculousness of the image subtly undermines that dignity at the same time.
- The roseate hue — The rosy tint the speaker notices comes from both the literal flush of alcohol and the figurative way that drink smooths out life's rough spots. It embodies the tempting fantasy that wine provides — warmth, kindness, and a fuzzy perspective on reality.
- The Rhine — The Rhine River is well-known for its wine-producing areas and inspired many romantic themes in 19th-century poetry and songs. Mentioning it here connects the speaker to a long-standing tradition of celebrating wine, lending his enjoyment a sense of cultural significance.
- Sinking to the floor — The speaker's movement — from throne to floor — reflects the breakdown of his strained reasoning. He concludes the poem by literally falling down while asserting his moral superiority, and Field allows that contradiction to resonate on its own.
Historical context
Eugene Field was a journalist and poet from Chicago, and he's most recognized today for his children's poem "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." However, he also penned a lot of light, funny poetry aimed at adults, which often appeared in newspapers. One such poem, "Der Mann im Keller," translates to "The Man in the Cellar" in English. The German title references the Rhine wine tradition and reflects the vibrant German-American community that played a significant role in Chicago's culture during the late 19th century. Field was writing at a time when humorous verse about drinking was a common feature in newspapers, and this poem fits right into that playful, light-hearted genre rather than taking a moral stance. Its lively rhythm and repeated refrain draw on the conventions of drinking songs that have existed for centuries.
FAQ
"Der Mann im Keller" directly translates to "The Man in the Cellar." Field chose a German title because the poem alludes to the Rhine wine region and taps into the German-American cultural fondness for wine and beer cellars. This choice also lends the poem a somewhat theatrical, song-like quality.
It's a joke—a warm and affectionate one. Field isn't promoting heavy drinking or crafting a tragedy about addiction. Instead, he's delivering a comic monologue where a cheerfully drunk man concocts increasingly ridiculous reasons to remain in the cellar. The humor lies in the speaker's earnest tone, even as he makes absolutely no sense.
A cooper is a skilled craftsman who creates and fixes wooden barrels. In the poem, the cooper plays the role of the speaker's eager partner, topping off his cup every time he gives a wink. This humorous touch adds to the cellar's charm, making it feel like a personal paradise complete with its own attentive servant.
His argument is that a man who drinks all the time can't hurt anyone because he's too busy. It's a deliberately silly line of reasoning—the speaker is literally sinking to the floor as he makes this point—and Field delivers it with a straight face, allowing the reader to appreciate the absurdity.
Each stanza has a lively, song-like rhythm with a mix of longer and shorter lines. The rhyme scheme is consistent and neat, enhancing the feel of a drinking song. The repeated phrase "drinking, drinking, drinking" at the end of each stanza acts like a chorus, giving the poem the feel of a tavern song.
He's claiming that his drinking has divine justification—if the Rhine wine country exists, it must be for people who love wine. It's another layer of humorous self-justification, shifting from "this makes me happy" to "this is literally God's plan for me."
Field is best known for his children's poetry, but he actually dedicated much of his career to writing humorous newspaper columns aimed at adults. His light, comic poems often celebrate everyday joys like food, drink, and leisure. This poem showcases that lesser-known aspect of his writing.