Although John Ashbery’s works are somewhat puzzling to me, I find him to be an extraordinary poet. I never believed that in order to get something out of the poetry I read I need to recognize exactly what it is the poet wrote about. Perhaps some poets don’t want this certainty to be achieved in order to allow the reader to form his or her own feelings and emotions when reading a certain poem.
“Some Trees” by Ashbery has a melodious nature. What he is literally trying to portray in this poem has not yet occurred to me but despite that, I am able to appreciate his use of language and his formulations of opposites within the poem. One specific line which stood out to me states, “A silence already filled with noises” (15). This line reflects on the entire poem and paints a picture in my mind filled with trees swaying back and forth in the wind which in turn creates the silence filled with noises which Ashbery describes. The swaying of the trees forms this melody and the poem catches onto a momentum which I hear in my voice as I read the poem aloud. Suddenly the poem becomes alive and the vivid descriptions of “A canvas on which emerges/ A chorus of smiles” triumphs over the end of the third stanza and transforms into the beginning of the forth stanza (16-17). The lyrical like language, which depicts Ashbery’s rich vocabulary and understanding of how words compliment each other, turns the possible meaning of the poem upside down and around, just like some trees behave in the wind. This behavior is wild in nature which compares to the way I view Ashbery’s writing.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Allen Ginsberg "A Supermarket in California"
Allen Ginsberg in his poem titled “A Supermarket in California” is seeking inspiration and guidance from Walt Whitman, who was a poet before Ginsberg’s time. He reaches out to Whitman because he notices the lack of change in America which Whitman believed would occur over the years. Poem’s like the “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry” by Whitman, spoke about the future of America which Ginsberg is desperately trying to address. He was alive in the future world which Whitman only wrote about.
As a homosexual male in America, Ginsberg most likely felt much more comfortable and honored to bring an important figure such as Whitman who was also a homosexual. The unity of families which Ginsberg brings up in his poem leaves him feeling like he does not belong in this new, modern American world. However, although years passed and America had been through socialist and political movements, Ginsberg notices that Whitman’s promises and ideas which he believed would come true one day, failed to take place. Whitman in his poem, “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”, was observing people who went on with their ordinary day, simply crossing riding the ferry to and from work. Ginsberg finds himself at a supermarket doing the same exact thing that Whitman was, as he observes husbands in the aisles with their wives and children, and perhaps feels left out, as if he does not belong. Ginsberg states, “I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd” (8-9). To me, this means that Ginsberg is wishing he, too was able to find himself at a “normal”, and/or “domestic-like” place as a supermarket, with his lover without it causing controversy. Perhaps the inspiration which Ginsberg needs from Whitman is actually courage to look into the future and believe that it will only bring forth better things, such as acceptance for all people.
As a homosexual male in America, Ginsberg most likely felt much more comfortable and honored to bring an important figure such as Whitman who was also a homosexual. The unity of families which Ginsberg brings up in his poem leaves him feeling like he does not belong in this new, modern American world. However, although years passed and America had been through socialist and political movements, Ginsberg notices that Whitman’s promises and ideas which he believed would come true one day, failed to take place. Whitman in his poem, “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”, was observing people who went on with their ordinary day, simply crossing riding the ferry to and from work. Ginsberg finds himself at a supermarket doing the same exact thing that Whitman was, as he observes husbands in the aisles with their wives and children, and perhaps feels left out, as if he does not belong. Ginsberg states, “I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd” (8-9). To me, this means that Ginsberg is wishing he, too was able to find himself at a “normal”, and/or “domestic-like” place as a supermarket, with his lover without it causing controversy. Perhaps the inspiration which Ginsberg needs from Whitman is actually courage to look into the future and believe that it will only bring forth better things, such as acceptance for all people.
Elizabeth Bishop "Sestina"
Elizabeth Bishop poem titled “Sestina” is fascinating since the title and form of the poetry are identical. A sestina is “a highly structured poem consisting of six six-line stanzas followed by a tercet for a total of thirty-nine lines” (Wikipedia.com). However, Bishop did not follow through with the sestina in her last stanza where she cut is short and changed the order of the ending words. Taking a close look at the poem, it is important to notice that the last word of every line in the first stanza is “house”, “grandmother”, “child”, “stove”, “almanac” and “tears”. Those exact words are used over and over again as the last word of every line, except the last stanza.
The reason for Elizabeth Bishop’s decision to title her poem after the form it was written in was to provide the reader with an understanding of how a child sees the world. A child rearranges things until everything makes sense, which in turn is the way the words are rearranged over and over again in the poem. The reader is trying to make sense of what is going on, but at the same time, understanding the true meaning of the poem is not the main dilemma here, in my opinion. I believe that Bishop is introducing her readers into a more complex way of writing poetry through depicting a complex and emotional situation between the grandmother and the child. Here Bishop demonstrates her art in its most persuading form, because it surely does persuade the reader to appreciate poetry.
An interesting point which stands out to me is that the sestina keeps folding and unfolding itself through the use of suggestive adjectives, such as “failing light”, “small hard tears”, “rigid house”, “winding path”, “marvelous stove”, “inscrutable house”, which in turn create emotion and make the sestina become alive. Also in Bishop's sestina, tears gracefully transform from the grandmother's literal tears to the sweat on a teakettle and the rain on the roof of the house, the tea in the grandmother's cup, the buttons on the man's shirt that the child adds to her drawing, and the little moons printed on the pages of the almanac. These techniques are not only producing great poetry, but they are also initiating intellectual writing filled with metaphors and imaginative language.
The reason for Elizabeth Bishop’s decision to title her poem after the form it was written in was to provide the reader with an understanding of how a child sees the world. A child rearranges things until everything makes sense, which in turn is the way the words are rearranged over and over again in the poem. The reader is trying to make sense of what is going on, but at the same time, understanding the true meaning of the poem is not the main dilemma here, in my opinion. I believe that Bishop is introducing her readers into a more complex way of writing poetry through depicting a complex and emotional situation between the grandmother and the child. Here Bishop demonstrates her art in its most persuading form, because it surely does persuade the reader to appreciate poetry.
An interesting point which stands out to me is that the sestina keeps folding and unfolding itself through the use of suggestive adjectives, such as “failing light”, “small hard tears”, “rigid house”, “winding path”, “marvelous stove”, “inscrutable house”, which in turn create emotion and make the sestina become alive. Also in Bishop's sestina, tears gracefully transform from the grandmother's literal tears to the sweat on a teakettle and the rain on the roof of the house, the tea in the grandmother's cup, the buttons on the man's shirt that the child adds to her drawing, and the little moons printed on the pages of the almanac. These techniques are not only producing great poetry, but they are also initiating intellectual writing filled with metaphors and imaginative language.
Sylvia Plath "Metaphors"
Sylvia Plath has been one of my favorite poets ever since High School, when I was introduced to the poem titled “Daddy”. Most of her writing is somewhat dark in a sense and she speaks about matters which may be considered too controversial for younger students. Personally, I appreciate the fact that Plath was not afraid to step out of the norm and introduce reality to poetry. However, her poem titled “Metaphors” shies away from the dark, gloomy world Plath describes in most of her poetry and brings upon laughter which is very much opposite from the feel readers get from poems like “Daddy”. Even though “Metaphors” takes a different route with the way Plath chooses to convey its message, she still stays true to her poetry and shows her reader the dark side of something which society sees as wonderful.
The poem is simply about pregnancy but the language and use of metaphors in the poem creates an inviting atmosphere where the reader is so intrigued by the imaginative words that it is hard not to smile when reading. However, it is important to note that some of the imaginary does not sound so pleasing. She describes the speaker in various ways, but mostly through sarcastic and self demeaning metaphors. Portraying pregnancy, Plath writes, “A melon strolling on two tendrils” (3). This image is not so pleasing and perhaps the speaker is not as excited about pregnancy as most people would expect her to be. The poem is about the subversion of women, what is expected of them by society, and how women fight against it. Plath takes a topic which society sees as pure and life fulfilling, and describes the desolate side which society fails to acknowledge. “Boarded the train there’s no getting off” shows the burden that the speaker sees as pregnancy (9). Humorous, but severe as well, this poem possesses its own approach to a topic which may be do differently viewed.
The poem is simply about pregnancy but the language and use of metaphors in the poem creates an inviting atmosphere where the reader is so intrigued by the imaginative words that it is hard not to smile when reading. However, it is important to note that some of the imaginary does not sound so pleasing. She describes the speaker in various ways, but mostly through sarcastic and self demeaning metaphors. Portraying pregnancy, Plath writes, “A melon strolling on two tendrils” (3). This image is not so pleasing and perhaps the speaker is not as excited about pregnancy as most people would expect her to be. The poem is about the subversion of women, what is expected of them by society, and how women fight against it. Plath takes a topic which society sees as pure and life fulfilling, and describes the desolate side which society fails to acknowledge. “Boarded the train there’s no getting off” shows the burden that the speaker sees as pregnancy (9). Humorous, but severe as well, this poem possesses its own approach to a topic which may be do differently viewed.
Langston Hughes "Bad Man"
Langston Hughes’ writing in “Bad Man” is autobiographical in a sense, but at the same time, Hughes tells the reader that this notion of a bad man has been brought upon his speaker by others, when he states, “I’m a bad, bad man/ Cause everybody tells me so” (1-2). He does not seem to mind the label which stuck to him, but instead, to him, his bravado and carefree attitude define him as a person.
My first analysis of the poem is that the speaker lives his life in a carefree manner and does not feel the need to be responsible for his actions. I found the second stanza of the poem very interesting due to the fact that the lines seem to connect with each other, almost as if the speaker fails to distinguish the difference between his wife and “side gal.” Hughes ends the lines with “an’” which makes the text flow in such a way that it seems as if the two women are both insignificant to his life. Hughes writes, “I beats ma wife an’/ I beats ma side gal too” (7-8). This sounds almost so nonchalant, as if he does not see any faults in actions. What is more alarming is that although the speaker admits that he beats the two women, he does not recognize that as a reason for him being a “bad man”. He goes on to say, “I don’t know why I do it but/ It keeps me from feelin’ blue” (11-12).
The speaker tells his reader in the beginning that the title of a “bad man” has been given to him by others, but then in a blues-like manner, he speaks of his violent ways. My second analysis of the poem is that perhaps the reason for this was to express his sadness in the person he became. Perhaps he was not so carefree, and he did care, but chose to accept his mistakes. The blues was written to speak about the many hardships of life which leads me to believe that although the speaker does not necessarily come to grips with his wrong doing by literally stating so, his words are actually speaking louder than his actions in this case, and he knows that violence and cheating is one of his hardships that he has to live with. The speaker says, “I’m goin’ to de devil an’/ I wouldn’t go to heaben if I could” (17-18). In these last lines of the poem, the reader understands his struggle and accepts the fact that his flaws have made him a bad person. Although the speaker’s way of thinking, which implies that he would not be capable of going to heaven anyhow after what he’s done, nor did it matter how bad he was for the rest of his life, may not compare with out current views, the blues tells a story which is autobiographical to him and he was his own judge in the end.
My first analysis of the poem is that the speaker lives his life in a carefree manner and does not feel the need to be responsible for his actions. I found the second stanza of the poem very interesting due to the fact that the lines seem to connect with each other, almost as if the speaker fails to distinguish the difference between his wife and “side gal.” Hughes ends the lines with “an’” which makes the text flow in such a way that it seems as if the two women are both insignificant to his life. Hughes writes, “I beats ma wife an’/ I beats ma side gal too” (7-8). This sounds almost so nonchalant, as if he does not see any faults in actions. What is more alarming is that although the speaker admits that he beats the two women, he does not recognize that as a reason for him being a “bad man”. He goes on to say, “I don’t know why I do it but/ It keeps me from feelin’ blue” (11-12).
The speaker tells his reader in the beginning that the title of a “bad man” has been given to him by others, but then in a blues-like manner, he speaks of his violent ways. My second analysis of the poem is that perhaps the reason for this was to express his sadness in the person he became. Perhaps he was not so carefree, and he did care, but chose to accept his mistakes. The blues was written to speak about the many hardships of life which leads me to believe that although the speaker does not necessarily come to grips with his wrong doing by literally stating so, his words are actually speaking louder than his actions in this case, and he knows that violence and cheating is one of his hardships that he has to live with. The speaker says, “I’m goin’ to de devil an’/ I wouldn’t go to heaben if I could” (17-18). In these last lines of the poem, the reader understands his struggle and accepts the fact that his flaws have made him a bad person. Although the speaker’s way of thinking, which implies that he would not be capable of going to heaven anyhow after what he’s done, nor did it matter how bad he was for the rest of his life, may not compare with out current views, the blues tells a story which is autobiographical to him and he was his own judge in the end.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Marianne Moore "To a Snail"
“but the principle that is hid:
in the absence of feet, “a method of conclusions”;
“a knowledge of principals”
in the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn.” (9-12, 446)
Marianne Moore’s poem titled “To a Snail”, made me think of something completely different than an actual snail. The language and ideas proposed in the poem made me see it as a way of Moore arguing the “correct” ways of ending a poem. I can picture Moore questioning the accepted notions of how poetry should be written and using this poem as a form of an amusingly written overall issue of what is considered good poetry. In the above lines, the poet is referring to one of the fundamental issues in poetry, which deals with how to end a poem. Moore goes on to say that a snail having no feet is one way to end it; or in this context, simply not having a conclusion at all is a way to end a poem.
I once read in an essay by Elisabeth W. Joyce that the lines, “A knowledge of principals”/ in the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn”, show that the purpose of the poem is as unusual as the constantly reacting projections out of the snail’s head. Just like the snail’s antennas alter its protrusions with completely submerging into the snail and then peeking back out, the purpose of a poem can be easily apparent through clear analysis, or it can submerge within the poem and into the poem’s surface. Moore uses a very fine poetic style to speak about culture and voices out her opinions by concealing her disapproval of poetic rules through a humorous image.
The entire poem moves along like a snail’s antennas as the lines go from long, to shorter, and short, and so on. This notion could be used to represent the fact that there are many ways, not just one, to write poetry and express poetic ideas. Instead of keeping up with a certain acquired regulation, Moore gives an example of how much more rewarding experiencing with language and its forms could be.
in the absence of feet, “a method of conclusions”;
“a knowledge of principals”
in the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn.” (9-12, 446)
Marianne Moore’s poem titled “To a Snail”, made me think of something completely different than an actual snail. The language and ideas proposed in the poem made me see it as a way of Moore arguing the “correct” ways of ending a poem. I can picture Moore questioning the accepted notions of how poetry should be written and using this poem as a form of an amusingly written overall issue of what is considered good poetry. In the above lines, the poet is referring to one of the fundamental issues in poetry, which deals with how to end a poem. Moore goes on to say that a snail having no feet is one way to end it; or in this context, simply not having a conclusion at all is a way to end a poem.
I once read in an essay by Elisabeth W. Joyce that the lines, “A knowledge of principals”/ in the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn”, show that the purpose of the poem is as unusual as the constantly reacting projections out of the snail’s head. Just like the snail’s antennas alter its protrusions with completely submerging into the snail and then peeking back out, the purpose of a poem can be easily apparent through clear analysis, or it can submerge within the poem and into the poem’s surface. Moore uses a very fine poetic style to speak about culture and voices out her opinions by concealing her disapproval of poetic rules through a humorous image.
The entire poem moves along like a snail’s antennas as the lines go from long, to shorter, and short, and so on. This notion could be used to represent the fact that there are many ways, not just one, to write poetry and express poetic ideas. Instead of keeping up with a certain acquired regulation, Moore gives an example of how much more rewarding experiencing with language and its forms could be.
Robert Frost "After Apple-Picking"
"And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now". (3-6, 207)
In the poem “After Apple-Picking”, Robert Frost reflects on the occurrences of an individual’s life, as the speaker shows regret through the lines of the poem. In the above lines, the apples that the speaker is referring to can be said to represent life experiences that the speaker missed upon throughout his/her life; or it could be something that the speaker did not learn but wanted to learn. The barrels are said to be empty and as the speaker sees this, he/she becomes filled with regret. The speaker is in the state of reflecting and is not happy with the way his/her life has gone. However, I do not see this poem as entirely melancholy in nature. I see it more as a poem about an older individual who has gained wisdom from life and is now able to see simple things, such as fruit, as things that matter to life. The importance of Frost’s usage of “apples” is essential to the core meaning of the poem.
The speaker mentions bruises on the apples by stating,
“For all
That stuck the earth,
No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth." (32-36, 208)
These bruises represent the missed opportunities and the mistakes the speaker has made during his/her lifetime. Life, all together, is a great and precious thing, but just as with everything else, there are certain obstacles that life throws at people and analyzes their ability to deal with different types of issues. By saying, “went surely to the cider apple heap”, the speaker might mean that although the apples had a flaw, they still held an importance, or a worth, which he/she did not see until now. This idea could be easily correlated back with the speaker, who might have not seen an importance in his/her life during the younger years, but now that age has caught up with the speaker, he/she is able to see the significance of their own life.
It can be taken from the poem that the speaker is near his/her death. But although death seems to be near, the speaker is not angry at that fact and rather, is enjoying his/her last thoughts before falling into everlasting sleep. The speaker is now more peaceful due to his/her sudden vision of reality and the understanding of mistakes made throughout life’s past years. Apples, going back in Christianity, were the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden, which goes along with death and heaven due to their connections between each other. In order to understand this poem, I believe it is necessary to understand that in turn for something to be dead, it must have been alive before. The missed life experiences and the regret the speaker is left with are gained through wisdom and knowledge which only life could have brought forth. This poem is almost like a message to the younger generation which urges them to be appreciative of life.
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now". (3-6, 207)
In the poem “After Apple-Picking”, Robert Frost reflects on the occurrences of an individual’s life, as the speaker shows regret through the lines of the poem. In the above lines, the apples that the speaker is referring to can be said to represent life experiences that the speaker missed upon throughout his/her life; or it could be something that the speaker did not learn but wanted to learn. The barrels are said to be empty and as the speaker sees this, he/she becomes filled with regret. The speaker is in the state of reflecting and is not happy with the way his/her life has gone. However, I do not see this poem as entirely melancholy in nature. I see it more as a poem about an older individual who has gained wisdom from life and is now able to see simple things, such as fruit, as things that matter to life. The importance of Frost’s usage of “apples” is essential to the core meaning of the poem.
The speaker mentions bruises on the apples by stating,
“For all
That stuck the earth,
No matter if not bruised or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth." (32-36, 208)
These bruises represent the missed opportunities and the mistakes the speaker has made during his/her lifetime. Life, all together, is a great and precious thing, but just as with everything else, there are certain obstacles that life throws at people and analyzes their ability to deal with different types of issues. By saying, “went surely to the cider apple heap”, the speaker might mean that although the apples had a flaw, they still held an importance, or a worth, which he/she did not see until now. This idea could be easily correlated back with the speaker, who might have not seen an importance in his/her life during the younger years, but now that age has caught up with the speaker, he/she is able to see the significance of their own life.
It can be taken from the poem that the speaker is near his/her death. But although death seems to be near, the speaker is not angry at that fact and rather, is enjoying his/her last thoughts before falling into everlasting sleep. The speaker is now more peaceful due to his/her sudden vision of reality and the understanding of mistakes made throughout life’s past years. Apples, going back in Christianity, were the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden, which goes along with death and heaven due to their connections between each other. In order to understand this poem, I believe it is necessary to understand that in turn for something to be dead, it must have been alive before. The missed life experiences and the regret the speaker is left with are gained through wisdom and knowledge which only life could have brought forth. This poem is almost like a message to the younger generation which urges them to be appreciative of life.
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