Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Kindness" is a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye, a Palestinian-American poet, novelist, and songwriter. Nye was born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri, and has written numerous works that explore themes of identity, heritage, and cultural exchange. "Kindness" was first published in 1995 and has become one of Nye's most famous and beloved poems.

Explanation:

The poem "Kindness" is an exploration of the theme of kindness and its transformative power. The speaker describes the ways in which kindness can manifest, from the simple act of holding a door open to the profound impact of empathy and understanding. The poem also touches on the idea that kindness can be contagious and that even small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect that can change the world.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse with no consistent rhyme or meter
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the ways in which kindness can manifest
• Repetition: Use of repetition in the phrase "Before you know what kindness really is" to emphasize the transformative power of kindness
• Metaphor: Use of the metaphor of a nest to describe the safety and comfort that can come from kindness

Conclusion:

"Kindness" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the transformative power of kindness. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem portrays the ways in which kindness can manifest and the profound impact it can have on individuals and the world. The poem invites readers to reflect on the importance of kindness in their own lives and to recognize the ripple effect that even small acts of kindness can have.

Poem Snippet:

Before you know kindness

as the deepest thing inside,

you must know sorrow

as the other deepest thing.

*COMPARISON with Sylvia Path’s KINDNESS:

While both poems share the theme of kindness, they approach it in very different ways. "Kindness" by Nye celebrates the transformative power of kindness and emphasizes the ways in which small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on individuals and the world. The poem invites readers to reflect on the importance of kindness in their own lives and to recognize the ripple effect that even small acts of kindness can have.

In contrast, "kindness" by Sylvia Plath is a more introspective and melancholy exploration of the theme. The poem portrays the difficulty of being kind to oneself and the sense of isolation and despair that can come from a lack of kindness. Plath uses vivid and sometimes disturbing imagery to convey the sense of darkness and despair that can accompany a lack of kindness, such as the "black, terrified pupils" that stare back from the mirror.

Despite their differences, both poems emphasize the importance of kindness and the transformative power it can have. Nye's poem celebrates the positive impact of kindness on individuals and the world, while Plath's poem highlights the negative consequences of a lack of kindness, particularly towards oneself.

Overall, while these two poems differ in tone and approach, they both offer important insights into the importance of kindness in our lives and the impact it can have on our well-being.

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