Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Agent" by Richard Wilbur is a poem that explores the nature of the creative process and the role of the artist in shaping the world around them. The poem reflects on the power and responsibility of the artist as a creator and agent of change.

Form: "Agent" is a free verse poem with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with varying line lengths.

Theme: The central theme of the poem is the power and responsibility of the artist as a creator and agent of change. The poem encourages the reader to embrace their own creativity and to recognize the potential for art to transform the world.

Imagery: The poem uses vivid and evocative imagery to convey the transformative power of art, such as the image of a bird taking flight and the metaphor of a single drop of ink spreading across a blank page.

Tone: The tone of the poem is both contemplative and empowering, as the speaker encourages the reader to recognize the power of their own creativity.

Diction: The language used in the poem is simple and direct, reflecting the immediacy and intimacy of the speaker's message.

Figurative language: The poem employs several types of figurative language, including metaphor (the bird taking flight) and imagery (the spreading ink).

Symbolism: The poem employs symbolism to convey its message, such as the metaphor of the bird taking flight as a symbol of the transformative power of art.

Analysis: In summary, "Agent" is a powerful and inspiring poem that reflects on the power and responsibility of the artist as a creator and agent of change. Published in 1971, the poem reflects the countercultural movements of the 1960s and the idea of art as a force for social and political transformation. Through its vivid imagery, symbolism, and figurative language, the poem encourages the reader to recognize the potential for their own creativity to shape the world around them.

Publication date: "Agent" was first published in Richard Wilbur's collection "Walking to Sleep: New Poems and Translations" in 1971.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...