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LOOKING AT AGING FACES, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


"Looking at Aging Faces" by Robert Bly delves into the profound subject of how life's experiences are etched into our faces, reflecting the individual's journey through time, challenges, and emotions. This poem contemplates the physical manifestation of aging and the deeper narrative that each wrinkle, line, and expression tells about a person's life. Bly's exploration is both a meditation on the nature of aging and a study in resilience, identity, and the human capacity to endure and adapt.

The poem opens with an observation that while faces age, they often remain true to their essence, bearing the marks of life's various impacts—disappointments, losses, and the myriad events that shape our existence. Bly points out how external events, such as parent-teacher meetings or the death of loved ones, physically and metaphorically push and pull at one's facial features, embedding stories within the skin.

Bly suggests that the face is a canvas where life's events are displayed, hinting at the inner deliberations that take place even before birth regarding how much to let these external factors influence one's essence. This predestined resilience or vulnerability is depicted as a choice made in the womb, determining how much one will "turn toward the wall or the woods," seeking solace in solitude or nature to avoid the scrutiny of the world.

The poem then shifts to examining faces that remain "whole and radiant," suggesting that these are the visages that have somehow managed to transcend the wear and tear of life's adversities. Bly implies that there are lessons to be learned from such faces, stories of resilience and perhaps a positive outlook, as exemplified by the hawk-profiled face that insists, "The world is fair, and if it's not, I think it is." This attitude reflects a deliberate choice to see beauty and fairness in the world, despite its injustices and chaos.

Bly acknowledges that life's insults and hardships—be it through emotional scars, diverging paths, or physical deprivation—alter some faces more than others. This change is not judged as "wrong" but rather as an inevitable part of the human experience, a testament to the individual's journey and the battles faced along the way.

The closing lines of the poem offer a poignant insight into the essence of identity and resilience. Bly suggests that a glimpse of a person's face just after waking, in that raw and unguarded state, can reveal the true self, untouched by the world's demands or the need to present a certain facade. This moment of vulnerability and authenticity provides a clear window into who we really are, beyond the aging and the experiences that shape us.

"Looking at Aging Faces" is a reflective and tender poem that invites readers to see beyond the surface of aging, recognizing the depth, strength, and beauty that lie within the stories told by each line and wrinkle. Bly's work encourages a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human face not just as a physical feature but as a living record of personal history, resilience, and identity.


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