Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Story About the Body" is a poem by Robert Hass, an American poet who served as United States Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997. The poem is a meditation on the nature of the body and its relationship to the human experience of the world.

Explanation:

The poem describes the speaker's experience of being in the world and reflecting on the nature of the body. The poem suggests that the body is both a source of pleasure and pain, and that it shapes our experience of the world in profound ways.

Despite the simplicity of the poem, there is a sense of beauty in Hass's use of language. The poem is filled with vivid and striking imagery that creates a powerful sense of the human experience of the body and its relationship to the world.

The poem is a reflection on the human experience of the body and its importance in shaping our experience of the world. It suggests that the body is a source of both pleasure and pain, and that our relationship to it is an essential part of our experience of the world.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of three stanzas, each with eight lines. The poem has an irregular rhyme scheme, with occasional slant rhymes and assonance.
• Imagery: The poem is full of vivid and striking imagery, particularly in its descriptions of the human body and its relationship to the world.
• Metaphor: The body is used as a metaphor for the human experience of the world and the challenges of navigating it.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative, reflecting the complexity and beauty of the subject matter.

Conclusion:

"A Story About the Body" is a powerful and evocative poem that reflects on the nature of the body and its relationship to the human experience of the world. Hass's use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a sense of the complexity and beauty of the human body and its relationship to the world. The poem is a poignant reflection on the human condition and the importance of the body in shaping our experience of the world.

Poem Snippet:

"The young woman walks by on the sidewalk

and the old woman walking

toward her on the same block

is so grateful for the young woman's beauty”