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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"On a Cliff" by Robert Bly is a succinct yet deeply evocative poem that captures a moment of profound connection between the human experience and the natural world. In this brief narrative, Bly conveys the essence of contemplation and the sudden, startling presence of life in its myriad forms. The poem is structured around a simple, yet powerful contrast between the act of reading and the vibrant life of a grasshopper. The opening line, "Reading the Master," immediately sets a tone of reverence and introspection, suggesting that the speaker is engaged in the contemplative act of reading works by a revered author or philosopher. This act of reading represents a human endeavor to seek wisdom and understanding, a pursuit of intellectual or spiritual nourishment. The sudden intrusion of the grasshopper's "dry sounds with his wings" serves as a sharp contrast to the quietude of reading. The grasshopper, with its energetic leaping "about in the wind," embodies the vitality and unpredictability of the natural world. This creature, seemingly insignificant, becomes the focal point of the poem, drawing the speaker's attention away from the intellectual pursuit to the immediacy of the living moment. The setting "Two hundred feet above the water" adds an element of precariousness and awe to the scene. This height, with its inherent danger and beauty, amplifies the significance of the grasshopper's dance. The vastness of the water below and the height of the cliff serve as metaphors for the depth and breadth of the unknown, the mysteries of existence that lie beyond the reach of human understanding. In this moment, Bly captures the intersection of the human and the natural, the intellectual and the instinctual. The act of reading the Master—a pursuit of higher knowledge—is juxtaposed with the simple, yet profound act of a grasshopper leaping in the wind. This juxtaposition invites reflection on the balance between the life of the mind and the life of the senses, between the pursuit of wisdom and the appreciation of the immediate, tangible world. "On a Cliff" is a testament to Bly's ability to find depth and meaning in brief, fleeting moments. Through the simple image of a grasshopper leaping above the water, Bly invites the reader to consider the vastness of the world, the beauty of life in all its forms, and the myriad ways in which we are connected to the natural world. The poem is a reminder to remain open to the unexpected, to the small wonders that can interrupt and enrich our quest for understanding.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRODIGAL SON by ROBERT BLY MARSHALL WASHER by HAYDEN CARRUTH DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 7. THE SILENCE by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER ON LORD HOLLAND'S SEAT NEAR MARGATE, KENT by THOMAS GRAY BEYOND THE POTOMAC by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE A TRUE HYMN [HYMNE] by GEORGE HERBERT THE DONG WITH A LUMINOUS NOSE by EDWARD LEAR GO NOW' by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS |
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