Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"After the Chinese" is a poem by Tess Gallagher, first published in 1994 as part of her collection "Moon Crossing Bridge". The poem is a reflection on loss, grief, and the power of memory.

Explanation:

The poem is structured as a series of fragments, each beginning with the phrase "After the Chinese". These fragments reference a variety of images and experiences, ranging from the beauty of a Chinese vase to the memory of a lost loved one. The poem is written in a free verse style, with no set rhyme or meter.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid images, including the "pale fire of dawn" and the "blue bowl of the sky".
• Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to explore the idea of memory as a vessel that can hold the past.
• Symbolism: The Chinese vase that appears throughout the poem symbolizes the fragility and transience of life.

Conclusion:

"After the Chinese" is a powerful reflection on the nature of memory and grief. By using fragments and metaphor, Gallagher creates a sense of the fragmented nature of memory and how it can be both beautiful and painful. Ultimately, the poem suggests that memory is a vessel that can hold the past, and that even though the people and things we have lost are gone, they continue to exist within us through memory.

Poem Snippet:

"After the Chinese vase

the flowers in it

the empty water

the memory of water

the memory of a loved one

the flowers are water

the vase is empty"