Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Blanched" is a poem written by Kay Ryan, an American poet born in 1945. The poem was first published in Ryan's 2008 poetry collection, "The Niagara River." The poem explores the idea of beauty and how it can be fleeting, using the metaphor of a flower that has lost its color.

Explanation:

The poem "Blanched" is a meditation on the nature of beauty and its transience. The poem begins by describing a flower that has lost its color and become "blanched." The speaker wonders whether the flower's beauty has been lost along with its color, or whether it still remains. The poem goes on to explore the idea that beauty is not a fixed quality, but rather something that is constantly changing and evolving. The speaker suggests that even though the flower may have lost its color, it still retains a certain beauty and grace. The poem concludes by suggesting that we should appreciate beauty in all its forms, even when it is fleeting.

Poetic Elements:

The poem "Blanched" is a rhymed couplet poem, with each couplet consisting of two lines that rhyme. The rhyme scheme is AABB. The poem makes use of metaphor, with the image of the blanched flower representing the transience of beauty. The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style, with short lines and no punctuation.

Conclusion:

"Blanched" is a poignant exploration of the nature of beauty and its transience. Kay Ryan suggests that beauty is not a fixed quality, but rather something that is constantly changing and evolving. The poem encourages us to appreciate beauty in all its forms, even when it is fleeting or has lost some of its luster.

Poem Snippet:

"It is not about/what you think."

"Beauty is a fact,/unremitting. It is a flower/that burns with its own heat."

"Its loveliness cannot/be calibrated./It can only be felt."

"All you have to do/is abandon/yourself to it."

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