Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | ||||||||
"Pictures of the Gone World: 25" is a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, published in his collection "Pictures of the Gone World" in 1955. The collection was his first and established him as a leading voice of the Beat Generation. Explanation: The poem begins with the speaker observing a couple on a subway platform. The speaker describes the woman as "a young tree," and the man as "full of the strength of a tree." The woman then boards the subway train, leaving the man behind. The speaker follows the woman onto the train, and the poem ends with the lines "The world goes by, the light changes,/ And the woman's face is all there is." Poetic Elements:
Conclusion: Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Pictures of the Gone World: 25" is a concise and evocative poem that captures the fleeting beauty of a moment. Through the use of vivid imagery and symbolism, Ferlinghetti emphasizes the transience of life and the power of memory to preserve these ephemeral moments. Poem Snippet: "The young tree moves out onto the crowded platform Leaves hold out streaming behind her in the wind Like the hair of a tree And the man full of the strength of a tree Goes with her, and carries her bags" Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO TIRZAH, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE FREDERICK DOUGLASS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR BARNEY'S INVITATION by PHILIP FRENEAU THE LABORS OF HERCULES by MARIANNE MOORE THE BARTHOLDI STATUE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER SUMMER NIGHT by KENNETH SLADE ALLING |
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