Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EXPLICATION OF AN IMAGINARY TEXT, by JAMES GALVIN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Salt is pity, brooms are fury Last Line: The other half are mirrors Subject(s): Churches; Mirrors; Salt; Cathedrals | ||||||||
Salt is pity, brooms are fury, The waterclock stands for primordial harmony. The spruce forest, which is said to be Like a cathedral Indicates proliferation of desire. The real meaning of the beginning Will not become clear until later, if ever. Things no longer being what they were, Artifice poses as process, The voice is tinged with melancholy. The teacup, the brass knuckles, and the pearl-handled razor Resist interpretation As if to say That half the wind is in the mind And half in the mind of the wind. Speaking through the character Who comes to faith on his deathbed, The author makes apology For saying things he didn't mean. Little girl-cousins with ribbons in their hair Confuse him with their names and are carried away By laughter. Thus, The force of love comes from belief, Hate is from lack of doubt. Paradox by paradox the narrative proceeds Until half the stars are absolute tears. The other half are mirrors. Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.cc.press.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VIRGIN IN GLASS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 3. FEEDING THE RABBITS by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR DOMESDAY BOOK: FATHER WHIMSETT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HALF-AND-HALF by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE AT THE CHURCH DOOR by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE ARCHITECT (1) by KAREN SWENSON A DISCRETE LOVE POEM by JAMES GALVIN |
|