Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Locked House" is a haunting and melancholic poem written by William DeWitt Snodgrass, first published in his 1960 collection, Heart's Needle. The poem explores the theme of loss, memory, and the pain of unfulfilled desire.

Explanation:

The poem opens with a description of a locked house, which the speaker says is "like a jail" and "a tomb." The house is filled with memories of the past, and the speaker is tormented by the knowledge that he can never go back and relive those moments again. He longs to "smash the door" and "break the locks" in order to reclaim the lost time, but he knows that it is impossible.

The speaker then reflects on his own mortality, acknowledging that he will someday die and be forgotten like so many others before him. He wonders if anyone will ever remember him, and if so, for how long.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of the speaker's own body becoming a locked house, filled with memories that he can no longer access. He is haunted by the knowledge that his life will eventually come to an end, and that his memories will be lost forever.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of three stanzas of varying length, with no set rhyme scheme or meter.
• Imagery: The use of the metaphor of the locked house creates a vivid and powerful image of the speaker's feelings of loss and entrapment.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is mournful and melancholic, reflecting the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness.
• Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "locked house" throughout the poem emphasizes the speaker's fixation on the theme of loss and unfulfilled desire.

Conclusion:

"Locked House" is a poignant and deeply moving poem that explores the universal themes of loss and mortality. Snodgrass uses powerful imagery and a haunting tone to convey the speaker's sense of despair and longing, and the result is a haunting and unforgettable work of poetry.

Poem Snippet:

"I cannot turn the key

To unlock my heart's dead bolt.

The past is all I see.

I cannot, cannot forgive the one who left.”

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