Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Context:

"Most Like an Arch This Marriage" is a poem written by John Ciardi, an American poet and translator who was known for his witty and accessible style. The poem was published in 1959, a time when traditional gender roles and societal expectations around marriage were being challenged and redefined.

Content:

"Most Like an Arch This Marriage" is a love poem that uses the metaphor of a bridge to explore the nature of marriage and the relationship between two people. The poem emphasizes the idea that a strong marriage is built on the strength of the individuals within it, and celebrates the ways in which two people can come together to create something greater than themselves. The use of the arch as a metaphor also speaks to the idea of marriage as a journey, with its ups and downs and moments of tension and harmony.

Form:

The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent meter or rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying length, with each stanza contributing to the overall theme and structure of the poem.

Poetic Elements:

The poem makes use of a variety of poetic techniques and devices, including metaphor, imagery, and repetition. The use of the arch as a central metaphor creates a sense of tension and harmony, and emphasizes the idea of marriage as a journey that requires strength and resilience.

Summary:

"Most Like an Arch This Marriage" is a powerful and moving love poem that explores the nature of marriage and the relationship between two people. The poem's use of metaphor and imagery creates a sense of tension and harmony, and emphasizes the importance of strength and resilience in building a strong marriage. Ciardi's accessible and straightforward style makes the poem relatable and easy to understand, while also allowing for a depth of meaning that resonates with readers.

Poem Excerpt:

"Most like an arch—an entrance which upholds

and shores the stone-crush up the air like lace.

Masses of stone plunge downward, tier on tier,

Crushing black gaps of air beneath them as they

arise—

Form upon form, climbing and concatenating,

With harsh seam-lines interrogating steel

This is the bridge; and we crossed over,

One at a time, the two of us,

Between the pillars of the years that

Arched us thus and knitted lace."

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