Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Waldman is an American poet and performer associated with the Beat Generation literary movement. "Alone in Her Sprint of Him" was published in 1989, during a time of significant cultural and political change in America. The poem reflects on themes of love, desire, and spiritual transcendence.

Content: 

"Alone in Her Sprint of Him" is a sensual and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and spiritual transcendence. The poem begins with the speaker describing the experience of being alone with a lover, and the intense physical and emotional connection that they share. The speaker then reflects on the nature of desire and the longing for spiritual union, invoking the language of mysticism and spiritual transcendence.

Form: 

The poem's form is characterized by its short, free-verse lines and seamless flow, which create a sense of intimacy and immediacy in the poem. The use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase across multiple lines, helps to create a sense of fluidity and movement in the language.

Poetic Elements: 

The poem employs several poetic devices, including metaphor, imagery, and allusion. The comparison of the speaker's desire to a "sprint" creates a sense of urgency and intensity, while the reference to spiritual transcendence alludes to the possibility of a deeper, more profound connection between the speaker and her lover.

Summary: 

"Alone in Her Sprint of Him" is a sensual and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and spiritual transcendence. The poem's use of metaphor and imagery helps to convey the intensity and urgency of the speaker's desire, while also suggesting the possibility of a deeper, more profound connection between the speaker and her lover. The poem's use of mystic language and allusion adds a sense of depth and richness to the poem, inviting the reader to explore the themes of love and spiritual transcendence in a new and meaningful way. Overall, the poem is a powerful reflection on the nature of desire and the longing for spiritual union, and an example of Waldman's distinctive poetic style.

Poem Excerpt:

in this love

I possess the universe

and myself

the caravans of thought

speed past

and I am racing

alone in my sprint of him

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