Hello MKV:
Don't know whereabouts you're from, but this sentence is chock full of what Annie Proulx is really good at, the use of vernacular slang as either words or phrases. So, if you're from a different culture some of these might not make much sense at all. In terms of the meaning of the sentence itself, it is fairly accurately translated into graphic action in the movie (though
much earlier than where it appears in the SS) - Jack is trying to nurse Ennis's bloody nose, when Ennis suddenly and unexpectedly swings a punch at Jack, hitting him in the face, knocking him on his ass, stunning him both physically and psychologically.
I'm no
etymologist but I'll take a shot at trying to make sense of some of these phrases:
swung from the deck - this might originate with actions taking place on the deck of a ship when objects are swung around rather dramatically and violently during unloading. It might also be related to the swinging of a baseball bat when the batter is next up, this position is known as being "on-deck" and the batter swings the bat around trying to loosen himself up. In either case it is sort of a wild and large swing, which is what Ennis took at Jack with his fist.
ministering angel - Jack of course is the angel who is ministering (tending to the needs of others) to Ennis's bloody nose.
laid . . . . out - Jack being sprawled out on the ground from Ennis's punch.
wild columbine - a wild flower native to North America that would have covered the hillside.
wing folded - wings being Jack's arms, which are folded in as he tries to recover from Ennis's sudden and unexpected punches.
Interesting question, hope this helps. 'Course this is just my idea, others may have somewhat different thoughts . . .
