Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

 "Invocation" by David Ignatow was published in 1960.

Explanation:

 The poem explores the speaker's desire to know the natural world intimately and deeply, to understand the secrets of dirt and stone.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse poem divided into 3 stanzas.
• Imagery: The poem contains rich sensory imagery that allows the reader to visualize and feel the natural world.
• Tone: The tone is reverent and curious, as the speaker seeks to connect with nature on a spiritual level.
• Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "if I may know you" emphasizes the speaker's desire to intimately understand the natural world.

Conclusion: "Invocation" is a powerful meditation on the connection between humanity and the natural world, and the speaker's desire to know and understand the secrets of the earth. The poem encourages the reader to take a moment to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature that surrounds us every day.

Poem Snippet: 

"Dirt and stone, if I may know you as you know yourselves, / roots and earth, if I may know you as you know me, / if I may know my selves as you know me, / let the speaking begin."