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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"A Wishing Well" by Robert Frost whimsically intertwines the fantastical with the philosophical, presenting a narrative where the desires and reflections of a poet and an astronomer serve as conduits for exploring deeper existential questions and the human condition. The poem is rich in both imagery and metaphor, navigating through the realms of love, cosmic aspirations, and the origins of creativity, all the while maintaining a playfully serious tone that is characteristic of Frost's poetry. The poem begins with a poet's wish for love to be as he idealizes it, a common human longing for perfection in the emotional sphere. His statement, "If but it were," followed by "And one thing more that may not be, This world were good enough for me," encapsulates a sentiment of near satisfaction with life, tinged with the realization that complete fulfillment is elusive. This introduces a theme of perennial human dissatisfaction—no matter how close one gets to contentment, there always seems to be something just out of reach, a "one thing more" that remains unattainable. Transitioning from the poet’s terrestrial concerns to the astronomer’s celestial ones, the poem expands its scope from personal longing to cosmic fantasy. The astronomer's wish to fill the sky with moons, "As circus day of toy balloons," illustrates a desire to enhance the beauty and wonder of the natural world, pushing beyond the mundane reality to a more spectacular and imaginative existence. This wish, though grandiose, speaks to the human urge to transcend limits and explore the boundaries of possibility. The poet also delves into the source of creativity, likening the birth of a new moon to the mysterious origins of a poem. When asked where he gets his poems, he whimsically suggests they are delivered from an "extinct old chimney pot" in New York, "via stork." This fantastical explanation serves as a metaphor for the elusive nature of inspiration, which often seems to come from nowhere or from forgotten corners of the mind, just as mythical as the birth of a moon torn from Earth’s side, as described in an ancient Arcadian legend. The poem concludes with a reflection on human resilience and the cyclical nature of existence, hinted at through the references to Ararat and the notion of starting the world anew. This ties back to the overarching theme of constant yearning and renewal, suggesting that despite humanity's struggles and failures, there is always potential for regeneration and new beginnings. Structurally, "A Wishing Well" is crafted with the deft simplicity typical of Frost, employing straightforward language that belies the complexity of the themes addressed. The rhyme and meter are unobtrusive yet rhythmic, enhancing the lyrical quality of the poem while keeping the reader engaged in the playful yet profound exploration of human desires, both terrestrial and celestial. In essence, Frost uses the contrast between the poet's and astronomer's wishes as a framework to explore deeper questions about human desires, the sources of our creativity, and the unending cycle of destruction and renewal that characterizes both the natural world and human endeavors. The poem becomes a reflective mirror on the human condition, beautifully encapsulating our eternal quest for something just beyond reach, whether it be perfect love, a more wondrous sky, or the elusive spark of inspiration. POEM TEXT: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1960/04/a-wishing-well/658093/
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNHOLY MISSIONS by BOB KAUFMAN O TO BE A DRAGON by MARIANNE MOORE FOUNTAIN IN AVIGNON by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE HOUR BETWEEN DOG AND WOLF: 1. THE GOOD OGRE'S BEARD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR I WANT THIS CORNER EMPTY (PERSEPHONE SPEAKING)' by JULIE CARR THE THREE WISHES by BILLY COLLINS |
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