Shakespeare. Enough said. The man never ceases to amaze me with his brutal honesty and tragic approaches to love. However blunt the honesty, I respect the speaker for pointing out the imperfections of his mistress like her wired hair, darker skin, color-less cheeks, and boring lips. For the speaker however, these imperfections are what made him perfectly love her. Even though she appears to be falling short in the beauty department, his love for her is extraordinary.
I love the satire here because often times poets and writers get a bit out of hand with their lyrical poems and odes to women. The mushy-gushy wording builds up falsities about the realness of these women being expressed. In "My mistress' eyes," the speaker refuses to compare his mistress to a goddess, for she is not a goddess. She is human and is described with the imperfections which accompany people. In reality, no one is perfect, and yet most end up being loved for just that.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Apparation by John Donne
I suppose the speaker is preparing for the worst: he'll have to haunt his ex-love as she moves on to another man. One important aspect of this poem is the use of future tense verbs, indicating that the speaker and his love are still together, but perhaps he suspects lack of faithfulness on her side. He speaks insults as he accuses the woman of being a "feigned vestal" or fake virgin. Then she is addressed as "O murderess" because she will ultimately be the death of their relationship. In no way is this speaker over her nor is he capable of moving on since he threatens to stick around as a ghost when they are no longer together; he wants to remain in the former lover's vicinity.
As a reader, I felt much suspense as I wondered what the speaker would say to the lover if she was ever with another man. He says he seeks not to threaten her now to "preserve" her. This poses as a threat; if the woman doesn't want to feel the wrath of her ex-lover as he haunts her and torments her with his words, then she had better remain faithful.
As a reader, I felt much suspense as I wondered what the speaker would say to the lover if she was ever with another man. He says he seeks not to threaten her now to "preserve" her. This poses as a threat; if the woman doesn't want to feel the wrath of her ex-lover as he haunts her and torments her with his words, then she had better remain faithful.
Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
#8
The tone of "Dover Beach" is quite hopeless. Diction conveys the hopelessness. The poem starts out on a calming note describing the essence of the sea, yet the first stanza is concluded with the tide bringing the "eternal note of sadness in." Faith of the modern world has been lost as it is compared to a sea once full and surrounding earth, but the faith and religion of the world has since retreated, like low tide. "Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar" signifies the loss of faith in a world that was once full of it. I still see this in today's world. Some faith and tradition has been lost, but just as the sea always remains so too does faith.
Next comes the parallelism between dreams "so various, so beautiful, so new" linked to the despair in the next line as the speaker says in reality these dreams are "neither joy, nor love, light, nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain." Talk about a downer! The speaker throws "neithers" and "nors" around like there's not much to look forward to, thus accentuating the hopeless tone.
The tone of "Dover Beach" is quite hopeless. Diction conveys the hopelessness. The poem starts out on a calming note describing the essence of the sea, yet the first stanza is concluded with the tide bringing the "eternal note of sadness in." Faith of the modern world has been lost as it is compared to a sea once full and surrounding earth, but the faith and religion of the world has since retreated, like low tide. "Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar" signifies the loss of faith in a world that was once full of it. I still see this in today's world. Some faith and tradition has been lost, but just as the sea always remains so too does faith.
Next comes the parallelism between dreams "so various, so beautiful, so new" linked to the despair in the next line as the speaker says in reality these dreams are "neither joy, nor love, light, nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain." Talk about a downer! The speaker throws "neithers" and "nors" around like there's not much to look forward to, thus accentuating the hopeless tone.
Getting Out by Cleopatra Mathis
#11
In "Getting Out," similes add to the poem. The first stanza states "we hardly slept, waking like inmates who beat the walls." This comparison stands for the trapped feeling of the couple in the poem, confined to the walls of their apartment. They felt like prisoners to their problems left unsolved. "Heaving words like furniture" portrays the heaviness of the words in a domestic state; throwing furniture would leave permanent scars, just as verbal fighting causes more harm than good. The "unshredded pictures" represent the memories the couple wanted to keep, indicating that there was a time when pictures were destroyed.
From the poem, it's evident that the couple tried to work things out as they lie awake during sleepless nights or he tried to leave several times and couldn't quite make it out the door due to "piles of clothes" and "unstrung tennis rackets." They didn't want to leave each other, but the problems had grown to be too much, the fighting too often, and love not enough.
In "Getting Out," similes add to the poem. The first stanza states "we hardly slept, waking like inmates who beat the walls." This comparison stands for the trapped feeling of the couple in the poem, confined to the walls of their apartment. They felt like prisoners to their problems left unsolved. "Heaving words like furniture" portrays the heaviness of the words in a domestic state; throwing furniture would leave permanent scars, just as verbal fighting causes more harm than good. The "unshredded pictures" represent the memories the couple wanted to keep, indicating that there was a time when pictures were destroyed.
From the poem, it's evident that the couple tried to work things out as they lie awake during sleepless nights or he tried to leave several times and couldn't quite make it out the door due to "piles of clothes" and "unstrung tennis rackets." They didn't want to leave each other, but the problems had grown to be too much, the fighting too often, and love not enough.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
"Sorting Laundry" by Elisavietta Ritchie
Out of all the poems this week, I related most to the simplistic act of folding laundry accompanied by the complicated thoughts that went with it. All too often the simple tasks or random objects remind us of little things in the past. And we cling to those objects because of the people they connect to our lives or the memories they make come alive. All too well, I know that even in the daunting task of folding laundry, the mind strays and memories surface.
I loved how the speaker thought of "folding you into my life" as laundry was folded. The speaker recalls her love as she folds the laundry. The poem progresses with the shifting of folding different clothing items: uncoupled socks must be the time before the speaker and her lover were together. Items found in the pockets like "well-washed dollars" is the constant spending of money to pay off debts of early relationships. The necklace from Kuwait reflects on time spent apart from each other for whatever reasons. Then the speaker mentions folding "blouses, panties, stockings, and bras" in line 47, all of which can be considered semi-sexual articles of clothing. There are multiple dimensions in the relationship like the "convexes and concaves" of the clothes.
I loved how the speaker thought of "folding you into my life" as laundry was folded. The speaker recalls her love as she folds the laundry. The poem progresses with the shifting of folding different clothing items: uncoupled socks must be the time before the speaker and her lover were together. Items found in the pockets like "well-washed dollars" is the constant spending of money to pay off debts of early relationships. The necklace from Kuwait reflects on time spent apart from each other for whatever reasons. Then the speaker mentions folding "blouses, panties, stockings, and bras" in line 47, all of which can be considered semi-sexual articles of clothing. There are multiple dimensions in the relationship like the "convexes and concaves" of the clothes.
"next to of course god america i" by E.E. Cummings
Despite excerpts from patriotic songs such as "The Star-Spangled Banner," "America the Beautiful," and "My Country tis of Thee," the overall tone of the poem reflects lack of pure patriotism. The quoted speaker is rambling- based on minimal punctuation- about his patriotic feelings, giving the thoughts a disconnected, nervous feel. The quoted speaker, like many, seems to discuss his feelings unsure about himself and in a rather reciting manner, rather than with firm attentiveness to what he's saying. Towards the end of the poem, readers start to see that the speaker lacks confidence in his quick speech and rapid drinking.
Through the quick pace, the quoted speaker does say something meaningful about soldiers: they "rush like lions to the roaring slaughter," meaning they don't think about what they are doing; they act out of patriotism. There isn't precise meaning to their being soldiers and fighting according to the quoted speaker, just like there isn't precise meaning to the speaker's speech.
An interesting afterthought is the meaning of "jingo." Jingoism is referred to as extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy. Perhaps the speaker disagrees with U.S. involvement in foreign affairs and sending soldiers into war.
"Much Madness is divinest Sense" by Emily Dickinson
# 13
To agree or not to agree? The speaker of Dickinson's poem urges readers through a major paradoxical statement to "demur" what society always says. While society claims "assent- and you are sane, demur- [and] you're straightway dangerous," the insanity is said to come from agreeing with the majority of society. There is truth in the paradox. The speaker is pushing individual thought, unique personality, and overall independence in beliefs. The insane aspect comes from simply agreeing with what the majority of people say or do.
I wonder if when Dickinson wrote this poem she realized the timeless qualities it would carry into future generations. It's human nature to follow what is popular; it's hard to stand out and stand up for the more abstract ideas. But it's the people who possess the confidence to step outside the realm of comfort and be different that make a lasting mark.
To agree or not to agree? The speaker of Dickinson's poem urges readers through a major paradoxical statement to "demur" what society always says. While society claims "assent- and you are sane, demur- [and] you're straightway dangerous," the insanity is said to come from agreeing with the majority of society. There is truth in the paradox. The speaker is pushing individual thought, unique personality, and overall independence in beliefs. The insane aspect comes from simply agreeing with what the majority of people say or do.
I wonder if when Dickinson wrote this poem she realized the timeless qualities it would carry into future generations. It's human nature to follow what is popular; it's hard to stand out and stand up for the more abstract ideas. But it's the people who possess the confidence to step outside the realm of comfort and be different that make a lasting mark.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
"Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy
# 7
Naturally, this poem struck a chord for me. Piercy's theme falls along the line of society's view of beauty being absolutely warped! Here, a girl is content with herself growing up, offered the "dolls,... and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks" presented to young girls. Society steers kids as either girlish and pink or boyish and blue. Consequently, the control society possesses on the minds of young girls is frightening. The girl in the poem is described as "intelligent" and "healthy," but that mattered little to those looking in; peers constantly judging and reshaping the person she was into the "perfect image."
Like a Barbie doll, the subject becomes plastic-like. Fake. As the poem is an overstatement, the girl didn't literally cut off her nose and legs, but it can be inferred that there was plastic surgery involved or an altering of the outward appearance. The casket reference symbolizes the dying of her inside and all she'd developed into being replaced with someone almost dead. No life can be justified from a person who has to change in order to be accepted into his/her surroundings. The upsetting part is girls and boys every where from childhood to teenage years are working to conform to the "perfect, plastic" image society wishes to see. However, my dad's always told me that it takes all people to make the world go 'round! We can't all be perfect; society would be quite boring if this were the case.
Naturally, this poem struck a chord for me. Piercy's theme falls along the line of society's view of beauty being absolutely warped! Here, a girl is content with herself growing up, offered the "dolls,... and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks" presented to young girls. Society steers kids as either girlish and pink or boyish and blue. Consequently, the control society possesses on the minds of young girls is frightening. The girl in the poem is described as "intelligent" and "healthy," but that mattered little to those looking in; peers constantly judging and reshaping the person she was into the "perfect image."
Like a Barbie doll, the subject becomes plastic-like. Fake. As the poem is an overstatement, the girl didn't literally cut off her nose and legs, but it can be inferred that there was plastic surgery involved or an altering of the outward appearance. The casket reference symbolizes the dying of her inside and all she'd developed into being replaced with someone almost dead. No life can be justified from a person who has to change in order to be accepted into his/her surroundings. The upsetting part is girls and boys every where from childhood to teenage years are working to conform to the "perfect, plastic" image society wishes to see. However, my dad's always told me that it takes all people to make the world go 'round! We can't all be perfect; society would be quite boring if this were the case.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
"Pink Dog" by Elizabeth Bishop
The strange images and figurative language of this poem was unclear and absurd. I realize that the pink dog was not to be taken literally, but the image would not escape my mind nonetheless.
The dog part refers to the beggars on the streets, "anyone who begs, drugged, drunk, or sober, with or without legs" (lines19-20). These are the people which are suppose to be embarrassment of society and expose a society's failures and downfalls. But with the "pink" added to the "dog," beggars are supposed to be dressed up for the Carnival festivities. Since it is a time of celebration, no one wants to have to look at the lowliness of society. They fake the outcasts by dressing them up. Problems should be hidden during the celebrations. They will deal with the problems during Lent.
"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
# 11
Sure the similes add character to dreams that are postponed; the similes give a negative connotation to the positive idea of having dreams. But it was the metaphor at the end which stuck out to me:
"Or does it explode?"
Not only is it italicized, but the metaphor is saved for the very end of the poem. No explanation is given for the explosion of a dream, but the image is vivid. The metaphor is presented to propose the worst possible cause of a deferred dream: violence. "Explode" connotes a destructive meaning of the dream. Since Hughes sought equal rights for blacks, it can be inferred but not necessarily justified that he wrote this with the dream of equality in mind. If the dream is put off too long, people might become weary about the fight for equal civil rights. But if the dream festers and then explodes, the search and yearning for equality might result in violence. Langston Hughes foresaw violence that would come after his time.
Sure the similes add character to dreams that are postponed; the similes give a negative connotation to the positive idea of having dreams. But it was the metaphor at the end which stuck out to me:
"Or does it explode?"
Not only is it italicized, but the metaphor is saved for the very end of the poem. No explanation is given for the explosion of a dream, but the image is vivid. The metaphor is presented to propose the worst possible cause of a deferred dream: violence. "Explode" connotes a destructive meaning of the dream. Since Hughes sought equal rights for blacks, it can be inferred but not necessarily justified that he wrote this with the dream of equality in mind. If the dream is put off too long, people might become weary about the fight for equal civil rights. But if the dream festers and then explodes, the search and yearning for equality might result in violence. Langston Hughes foresaw violence that would come after his time.
"I tast a liquor never brewed" by Emily Dickinson
# 12
Ohh Emily....
Dickinson writes this poem as an allegory, where each element seems to stand for something bigger than the meaning of the poem. Dickinson's poems are often times difficult to grasp, but it is evident that nature is the main focus of the poem. Nature is the "liquor" by which drunkenness comes. This becomes clear as all the terminology refers to drinking: "tankards," "drams," debauchee." However, the nature aspect is revealed through phrases like "out of Foxglove's door," "butterflies," "inns of Molten Blue," and "leaning against the sun." The Molten Blue seems to be the sky, sheltering nature like an inn shelters drunks. When the speaker says "leaning against the sun," the symbolic imagery is suppose to be a drunkard leaning against a light post in the street (sun and light post both give off light!). The seraphs and the saints represent godly beings watching people finding excess joy in the beauty of nature; they go to every "window" to watch (line 14)!
"Bright Star" by John Keats
# 8
I imagined a man speaking this poem, starring at a star, saying "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may. I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight." And then he goes to bed.
On a more professional note, the tone of "Bright Star" is hopeful and serene. The speaker does not want to lose his lover ever. He expresses this by pointing out the positives of the star being steadfast and patient; both qualities are those of which he hopes to find in his relationship. The speaker envisions a life that never changes- where he can have all the love and joy forever, like the steadfast brightness of a star. Like most humans, he wants the good out of the relationship without having to deal with a tragic downfall.
Maybe by speaking to the star, a constant in the night sky, the speaker hopes he will have his lover in the night as a constant companion. The star holds that patient power that lovers wish to possess to keep their love strong.
I imagined a man speaking this poem, starring at a star, saying "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may. I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight." And then he goes to bed.
On a more professional note, the tone of "Bright Star" is hopeful and serene. The speaker does not want to lose his lover ever. He expresses this by pointing out the positives of the star being steadfast and patient; both qualities are those of which he hopes to find in his relationship. The speaker envisions a life that never changes- where he can have all the love and joy forever, like the steadfast brightness of a star. Like most humans, he wants the good out of the relationship without having to deal with a tragic downfall.
Maybe by speaking to the star, a constant in the night sky, the speaker hopes he will have his lover in the night as a constant companion. The star holds that patient power that lovers wish to possess to keep their love strong.
"February" by Margaret Atwood
# 6
Atwood's poem has a central purpose posed around the despair of February. The speaker dislikes February as it is the month "with a skewered heart in the centre" which implies the harsh image of an arrow through a heart. Valentine's day falls in February and for those of us who don't have someone to share it with, it's one of the most annoying and unimportant days of the year; I completely agree with the speaker about the despair part!
February is all about love (and sex lines 19-24); the speaker is obviously dealing with heartbreak as the cat is her only companion. The speaker tries to stay away from all of the love by staying in bed under the covers away from the world. All winter is good for according to a pessimistic speaker is "to eat fat and watch hockey." Despite the negativity, the speaker comes to terms with the fact that February is a difficult month to get through at the end of the poem. The resolution: get out of bed, go find somebody, and find the optimism to get through!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
"To Autumn" by John Keats
# 17
The poem's stanzas are formed so that they describe certain times of day. The first stanza is showing morning with words such as "season mists," "maturing sun," and "warm days." These phrases set an image of misty mornings where the sun is growing higher in the sky. The speaker is happy with the early signs of fall. The second stanza is evening when things start to cool off with the "winnowing wind" and "oozing hours." The time here seems to drag on, and I get the sense that as the season grows closer to winter, the speaker grows more impatient. The third stanza starts with "Where are the songs of spring?" showing further the impatience to get winter over with. Phrases like "soft-dying day," "small gnats mourn," "hedge-crickets sing," and "swallows twitter the sky" depict dusk with a setting sun, bugs coming out, birds flying to their resting places. The poem has a settling, peaceful tone to it, besides the middle stanza where the writers impatience with a long winter comes into play.
"After Apple-Picking" by Robert Frost
# 12
This poem is an interconnected system of symbols. The apples aren't really apples, the woodchuck not really a woodchuck, and the pane of glass in line 9 could mean more than a pane of glass. I don't believe I am stepping outside the "cone-zone" when I say that the apples which the speaker talks about "load on load of apples coming in" represent all the experiences the speaker has acquired. As described in the dream from lines 18- 36, the speaker has grown "overtired" from apple-picking, symbolizing a weariness with life. The "strangeness from sight" comes from growing old which the speaker "got from looking through a pane of glass" (line 10) or watching life go by. All of the apples, good and bad, were used for growth and were not thought to be wasted, for the speaker says "there were 10,000 fruit to touch, Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall." He/ she obviously cherishes the experiences, but is now tired and old with age and experience.
This poem is an interconnected system of symbols. The apples aren't really apples, the woodchuck not really a woodchuck, and the pane of glass in line 9 could mean more than a pane of glass. I don't believe I am stepping outside the "cone-zone" when I say that the apples which the speaker talks about "load on load of apples coming in" represent all the experiences the speaker has acquired. As described in the dream from lines 18- 36, the speaker has grown "overtired" from apple-picking, symbolizing a weariness with life. The "strangeness from sight" comes from growing old which the speaker "got from looking through a pane of glass" (line 10) or watching life go by. All of the apples, good and bad, were used for growth and were not thought to be wasted, for the speaker says "there were 10,000 fruit to touch, Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall." He/ she obviously cherishes the experiences, but is now tired and old with age and experience.
"The Convergence of the Twain"
# 11
The "dim moon-eyed fish" are a metaphor for ignorant people. These fish swim by without taking notice to the ship, kind of like attention not being paid to some key points of the ship when it was being built (for instance, putting enough life boats aboard). These fish represent the ignorant people who built the ship, focusing on the grandiose and less on the safety of its passengers. The builders and engineers didn't prepare for the disaster which unfolded.
The "mirrors" are meant to be blocked from looking in as the sea-worm crawls over them. The mirrors are blurred just as the builders vision was blurred in seeing hazards.
I also like the lines that went "The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything Prepared a sinister mate For her- so gaily- great" because the ice burg which ultimately destroyed the ship was the evil mate of the ship bringing it to its demise.
The "dim moon-eyed fish" are a metaphor for ignorant people. These fish swim by without taking notice to the ship, kind of like attention not being paid to some key points of the ship when it was being built (for instance, putting enough life boats aboard). These fish represent the ignorant people who built the ship, focusing on the grandiose and less on the safety of its passengers. The builders and engineers didn't prepare for the disaster which unfolded.
The "mirrors" are meant to be blocked from looking in as the sea-worm crawls over them. The mirrors are blurred just as the builders vision was blurred in seeing hazards.
I also like the lines that went "The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything Prepared a sinister mate For her- so gaily- great" because the ice burg which ultimately destroyed the ship was the evil mate of the ship bringing it to its demise.
"The Convergence of the Twain" by Thomas Hardy
# 8
The tone of the poem is somber with an eerie twist. To explain further, it's somber in the sense that it alludes to the sinking the Titanic and all the ruin. However, I found it to be almost eerie for several reasons. The first is the imagery of "dim moon-eyed" fish swimming around the ship's ruin and "the sea-worm" crawling over the mirrors. These creatures give an eerie feel to the poem whose main subject (the Titanic) is deep below the sea. Also, the poem hints at the fact that this was God's plan for the ship to sink. To support this, the poem mentions the "Immanent Will" and "Spinner of the Years" which, through their titles and capitalization, represent God. If God's will was to end lives and have the ocean consume the ship, I see this as semi eerie to discuss in this poem.
I also saw the tone as reprimanding for all those lost in vanity that were on the Titanic. The first two lines "In a solitude of the sea Deep from human vanity" show that this ship has lost all the vanity it once held. So consumed by wealth were the passengers that they forgot about the "Spinner of the Years" or God.
"The Widow's Lament in Springtime" by William Carlos Williams
# 13
I liked this poem because not only did it describe the new life and blossoming of spring, but it also described the loss a woman felt. I found this whole poem ironic when considering how springtime brings new lif
e. Despite the time of year, all this widow could think of was death and the grieving for her husband. It seemed to me that she wanted to "fall into the marshes" at the end to symbolize her death so she could be with her husband. The setting of springtime is fitting since everything is growing and moving on, while the widow is stuck in the past. The white flowers symbolize growth and new life, but for the widow all they do is bring about grief and seemingly unwanted memories of her dead husband. This idea made me realize that things which once brought us happiness, like peonies for me, remind us of distant, sad memories as time goes by (the death of my grandma). After losing her husband, happiness can no longer be seen in the simple things.
e. Despite the time of year, all this widow could think of was death and the grieving for her husband. It seemed to me that she wanted to "fall into the marshes" at the end to symbolize her death so she could be with her husband. The setting of springtime is fitting since everything is growing and moving on, while the widow is stuck in the past. The white flowers symbolize growth and new life, but for the widow all they do is bring about grief and seemingly unwanted memories of her dead husband. This idea made me realize that things which once brought us happiness, like peonies for me, remind us of distant, sad memories as time goes by (the death of my grandma). After losing her husband, happiness can no longer be seen in the simple things.Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Art of Interpreting
Interpreting poetry has never been my strong point. I get lost in the imagery and descriptions being posed or the deep metaphors which I am supposed to catch on to. After reading Laurence Perrine's "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry," I realized that I'm not necessarily alone in my lack of interpreting "correctly" for every poem I read. I found peace in T.S Eliot's response that "if it suits you that way, then that is all right with me." This means that our interpretation may be different from the next person's or even the author's but that doesn't single out the inaccuracy of our own suggested meaning. The strategy that most stuck to me about judging the interpretation of the poem is all the pieces do add up- don't be so quick to analyze and throw out a meaning for a poem. I'll admit that I found myself doing just that when comparing Whitman and Melville's poems; I completely missed the night's stars references from diction like "gleam," "bright," or "twinkling." However, I don't think that my interpretation of Melville's poem was completely wrong even though I did not pick up on the "army of stars."
I really like the cone of light image which Perrine describes: " The cone of light is the area of meaning. Its point is precise and easily located. But its base fades out into the atmosphere." The logic here is that when dealing with poetry, one has to be within the realm of interpretation, and cannot simply throw out answers which may not remotely apply. Words in poetry were said to have "richer meaning" than words in any other work; therefore, they require more in depth reading. Still, there are some words that always represent or can be understand to mean the similar thing every time. A rose, for instance, will never represent something ugly or dying in a poem; likewise, the "cone of light" for a rose is limited around a symbol for something beautiful, delicate, and alive.
From the article, I can take away an understanding that reading poetry takes patience and time. It requires more than one read-through. Though poetry can be interpreted different ways, there is a certain area of topics and understanding with which analysis falls under. Poetry is art, not just words. "...A rose is not an ink blot. Nor is a poem."
I really like the cone of light image which Perrine describes: " The cone of light is the area of meaning. Its point is precise and easily located. But its base fades out into the atmosphere." The logic here is that when dealing with poetry, one has to be within the realm of interpretation, and cannot simply throw out answers which may not remotely apply. Words in poetry were said to have "richer meaning" than words in any other work; therefore, they require more in depth reading. Still, there are some words that always represent or can be understand to mean the similar thing every time. A rose, for instance, will never represent something ugly or dying in a poem; likewise, the "cone of light" for a rose is limited around a symbol for something beautiful, delicate, and alive.
From the article, I can take away an understanding that reading poetry takes patience and time. It requires more than one read-through. Though poetry can be interpreted different ways, there is a certain area of topics and understanding with which analysis falls under. Poetry is art, not just words. "...A rose is not an ink blot. Nor is a poem."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)