Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Dancing" is a poem by American poet Gerald Stern. It was first published in 1997 in his collection of poems "This Time: New and Selected Poems." The poem explores themes of aging, memory, and the human body.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker describing an old man dancing in a plaza. The speaker reflects on how the old man's body has aged and changed over the years, but how he still moves with a certain grace and fluidity. The speaker then shifts focus to their own body, reflecting on how they used to dance when they were young, but how that ability has been lost with age.

The poem continues with the speaker contemplating the impermanence of the human body and the inevitability of aging. They reflect on how the old man's dancing serves as a reminder of the beauty and fragility of the human form.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of six stanzas, each comprising four lines. The poem does not have a consistent rhyme scheme.
• Imagery: The poem contains vivid imagery, particularly in its descriptions of the old man's dancing and the speaker's memories of their own dancing.
• Metaphor: The poem uses dancing as a metaphor for the human body and its relationship with time and aging.

Conclusion:

"Dancing" is a poignant meditation on aging, memory, and the human body. Through its use of vivid imagery and metaphor, the poem captures the beauty and fragility of the human form, as well as the importance of cherishing our bodies and the memories they hold.

Poem Snippet:

"He is old now,

the dancer in the plaza,

but he dances well,

fluid and shining like the fish in the sea."