Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Expounding the Torah" is a poem by Louis Zukofsky, first published in 1969. The poem is a reflection on the act of expounding the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and how it is passed down through generations.

Explanation:

The poem opens with the speaker stating that expounding the Torah is "as natural as breathing," and that it is a tradition that has been passed down through generations. The speaker then reflects on how the Torah is taught in different ways, sometimes through recitation, sometimes through written commentary, and sometimes through personal interpretation. The poem explores how the Torah can be understood in different ways, depending on the perspective of the teacher and the student.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter. The stanzas vary in length, and some lines are broken mid-sentence.
• Imagery: The poem uses several images related to the Torah and Jewish tradition, such as "the names / of fathers and grandfathers" and "the slipperiness / of eels." These images evoke a sense of tradition and continuity.
• Language: The language of the poem is often dense and complex, with references to Hebrew words and phrases, as well as historical figures and events.

Conclusion:

"Expounding the Torah" is a reflective poem that explores the tradition of passing down the Torah through generations. The poem suggests that the act of expounding the Torah is a fluid and dynamic process, one that can be understood in different ways depending on the teacher and the student. Through its use of rich imagery and complex language, the poem evokes a sense of the depth and complexity of Jewish tradition.

Poem Snippet:

"it is as natural as breathing

the slipperiness

of eels, eels you never saw

and the names

of fathers and grandfathers

hardly more certain

than eels, to be carried

by time, and made"

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