Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Traveling Dream" is a poem by Marge Piercy, first published in her 1988 poetry collection "Available Light." The poem reflects on the power of dreams and the ways in which they can transport us beyond the limitations of our daily lives.

Explanation:

The speaker of the poem describes a dream in which they are traveling through space, "past our galaxy's arm / and on through the great clusters of stars." They encounter "vivid landscapes," including "jungles of neon ferns" and "cities that glittered like jewels." The dream seems to offer a sense of freedom and escape from the mundane, with the speaker describing themselves as feeling "lighter and stronger" as they journey through the cosmos.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of four stanzas, each with six lines. The lines vary in length, with some shorter and others longer, but there is no consistent meter or rhyme scheme.
• Imagery: Piercy uses vivid and fantastical imagery to describe the speaker's dream journey, including "vast metallic plains" and "jeweled towers."
• Symbolism: The dream journey can be seen as a symbol for the power of imagination and the ability of the mind to transcend physical limitations.

Conclusion:

"Traveling Dream" is a poem that celebrates the power of dreams to transport us beyond the limitations of our daily lives. Piercy's use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of wonder and possibility, inviting readers to imagine the limitless potential of their own inner worlds.

Poem Snippet:

"We flew past our galaxy's arm

and on through the great clusters of stars.

We landed in vivid landscapes,

jungles of neon ferns, vast metallic plains,

cities that glittered like jewels, and every place

we left a small light burning."