Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Pictures of the Gone World: 25" is a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, published in his collection "Pictures of the Gone World" in 1955. The collection was his first and established him as a leading voice of the Beat Generation.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker observing a couple on a subway platform. The speaker describes the woman as "a young tree," and the man as "full of the strength of a tree." The woman then boards the subway train, leaving the man behind. The speaker follows the woman onto the train, and the poem ends with the lines "The world goes by, the light changes,/ And the woman's face is all there is."

Poetic Elements:

• Structure: The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines.
• Imagery: The use of metaphor to describe the couple as trees.
• Symbolism: The train and changing light symbolize the passage of time and the transience of life.
• Repetition: The repetition of the word "tree" emphasizes the strength and vitality of the man.

Conclusion:

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Pictures of the Gone World: 25" is a concise and evocative poem that captures the fleeting beauty of a moment. Through the use of vivid imagery and symbolism, Ferlinghetti emphasizes the transience of life and the power of memory to preserve these ephemeral moments.

Poem Snippet:

"The young tree moves out onto the crowded platform

Leaves hold out streaming behind her in the wind

Like the hair of a tree

And the man full of the strength of a tree

Goes with her, and carries her bags"