Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Fish" is a poem by Marianne Moore, first published in 1918. The poem describes the speaker's encounter with a fish and explores themes of nature, beauty, and mortality.

The poem begins with a description of the fish, which is depicted as a powerful and majestic creature. Moore uses vivid imagery to describe the fish's scales, fins, and eyes, and notes that it is "battered and venerable and homely."

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the broader implications of the fish's existence. She notes that the fish has lived a long and full life, and that it has survived despite the many dangers and challenges it has faced.

The poem concludes with the speaker releasing the fish back into the water, recognizing that its time on earth is coming to an end. The poem suggests that the beauty of the natural world is fleeting and fragile, but also resilient and enduring.

Overall, "The Fish" is a powerful meditation on the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and on the ways in which our encounters with nature can inspire us to reflect on the larger mysteries of life and mortality. The poem is widely considered to be one of Moore's most celebrated works and is regarded as a classic of modernist poetry.

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