Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Phantasia for Elvira Shatayev" is a poem by Adrienne Cecile Rich that explores the relationship between two women and the power of imagination and creativity. The poem was first published in 1974 as part of her collection "Diving into the Wreck: Poems 1971-1972."

Explanation:

The poem begins by describing the speaker's friendship with Elvira Shatayev, a fellow writer and artist. The speaker reflects on the many ways in which Elvira has influenced her life and her creative work, and notes the power of their shared imagination and creativity.

As the poem progresses, the speaker imagines a world in which she and Elvira are free to express themselves fully, without the constraints of societal expectations and gender norms. The poem suggests that imagination and creativity can be powerful tools for resistance and liberation, allowing individuals to transcend the limitations of their circumstances and envision a better world.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "Phantasia for Elvira Shatayev" is a free verse poem without a set rhyme or meter. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with varying line lengths and no consistent pattern of rhyme or rhythm. This form allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, with the language and imagery serving as the primary focus.

• Imagery: "The color of a peacock's throat," "The flowering quince"
• Allusion: Elvira Shatayev
• Metaphor: Imagination as a "quarry"
• Symbolism: The "quarry" as a symbol of creative potential

Conclusion:

"Phantasia for Elvira Shatayev" is a reflective and imaginative poem that celebrates the power of friendship, imagination, and creativity. The poem encourages readers to embrace their own creative potential and to use their imaginations to envision a better world.

Poem Snippet:

"In the quarry of imagination, in the furnace

of the mind, we quarry the raw material of our lives,

stone of hope, stone of love, and imagination builds

its castles, grander than any lost or ever dreamed."

*NOTE: Elvira Shatayeva was a Russian professional mountain climber and professional athlete and the leader of a failed expedition to Pik Lenina, Pamir, Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border in August 

1. At the time of her death in 1974, she was one of the most famous climbers in the USSR.