Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Hermit Goes Up Attic" is a poem by Maxine W. Kumin that was first published in her collection "Where I Live: New & Selected Poems 1990-2010" in 2010.

Explanation:

The poem is about the speaker's experience of exploring an attic filled with old items and memories. The speaker describes the various objects they encounter, such as a rocking horse and a dress form, and reflects on the ways in which these items connect to their own past and identity. The poem also explores the theme of time and the ways in which the past is always present, even as we move forward.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme scheme or meter. The poem consists of a single stanza of 22 lines.
• Imagery: The poem contains rich visual imagery that evokes the world of the attic and the various items within it, as well as sensory imagery that describes the feeling of exploring the space.
• Metaphor: The poem employs several metaphors to describe the nature of memory and the ways in which the past is interconnected with the present, such as the comparison of memory to a "spinning top."
• Theme: The poem explores the theme of memory and the ways in which the past is always present, even as we move forward in time.

Conclusion:

"Hermit Goes Up Attic" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of memory and the ways in which the past shapes our present identity. The poem's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and introspection creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the reader and the speaker, while its underlying theme of the enduring presence of the past underscores the importance of understanding and accepting our own personal histories.

Poem Snippet:

"I touch the rocking horse

belly and ears of plaited flax,

its rounded haunches, still

capable of balance, after all

these years. I have outlived it.

But then I pick up the spinning top."

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