Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Figured Wheel" is a poem by Robert Pinsky that was first published in his collection titled "Jersey Rain" in 2000. The poem is a reflection on the cycle of life and death, inspired by the image of a wheel that is both fixed and constantly moving.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker describing a figurine of a wheel, which is both motionless and constantly in motion. The speaker then reflects on the nature of life, which is similarly paradoxical, as it is both fleeting and enduring. The poem then moves on to contemplate the natural world, with its cycles of growth and decay, and the inevitability of death. The speaker notes that even in the face of death, there is a kind of beauty and meaning to be found in life.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The lines are roughly the same length, and the poem has no set rhyme scheme.
• Imagery: The poem is rich in imagery, particularly in its use of the metaphor of the wheel to represent the cycle of life and death.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and reflective, as the speaker ponders the nature of life and death.

Conclusion:

"The Figured Wheel" is a poem that explores the cyclical nature of life and death, and the ways in which even in the face of mortality, there is a kind of beauty and meaning to be found in the world around us. The poem's use of metaphor and imagery creates a powerful and evocative meditation on the human condition.

Poem Snippet:

"The figurine wheel on the wall

motionless spins: so the mind

revolves at rest, yet moving, within

its sphere of restless routine."

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