Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"After the Exhibition" is a poem by Philip Booth that explores the idea of art and its power to inspire and transform. The poem is a meditation on the beauty of art and its ability to evoke deep emotions and memories. "After the Exhibition" was first published in 1970 in his collection of poems titled "Lifelines: Selected Poems 1950-1969." The poem celebrates the power of art to inspire and transform, while also acknowledging its fleeting nature.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on an art exhibition they have just visited. The speaker describes the beauty of the paintings and how they have left a lasting impression on them. The paintings are described in vivid detail, with their colors and shapes evoking powerful emotions and memories.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the power of art to move us and transform us. Art is described as a "stirring of soul" that can awaken our senses and make us see the world in a new light. The speaker suggests that art has the power to transform us and to help us find meaning in the world.

Despite its beauty and transformative power, the speaker acknowledges that art can also be fleeting. The paintings that have left such a lasting impression on the speaker will soon be taken down and replaced with something new. The poem ends on a note of bittersweetness, as the speaker reflects on the transient nature of art and the power it has to evoke deep emotions and memories.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "After the Exhibition" is a free-verse poem with no set rhyme scheme or meter.
• Imagery: The poem is full of sensory details, such as the colors and shapes of the paintings.
• Metaphor: Art is compared to a "stirring of soul" that can awaken our senses and make us see the world in a new light.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and reflective, as the speaker meditates on the beauty of art and its power to transform.

Summary:

 "After the Exhibition" is a beautiful poem that celebrates the power of art to inspire and transform. The poem emphasizes the beauty and evocative power of art, while also acknowledging its fleeting nature. Booth's poem is a reminder of the importance of art in our lives and the ways in which it can help us find meaning and beauty in the world around us.

Poem Snippet:

"We leave the gallery, the pictures' hues

going with us, haunting the mind;

always it is the good art

that makes us want to return."

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