Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Considering the Snail" is a poem by Thom Gunn that explores the themes of nature, mortality, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The poem was first published in 1962 as part of his collection "My Sad Captains."

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker observing a snail moving slowly across a garden path. The speaker reflects on the snail's smallness and vulnerability, noting that it is easily crushed and forgotten.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the ways in which all living things are connected, and how even the smallest creatures have their own unique beauty and significance. The poem ultimately concludes with a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world, as the speaker contemplates the mysteries of life and mortality.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "Considering the Snail" is a free verse poem without a set rhyme or meter. The poem consists of three stanzas, each with varying line lengths and no consistent pattern of rhyme or rhythm. This form allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, with the language and imagery serving as the primary focus. The use of enjambment creates a sense of continuity and fluidity, reflecting the theme of interconnectedness and the mysteries of life and mortality.

• Imagery: "narrow street," "curled once like a watch spring," "a leaf obscured its shape"
• Allusion: None
• Metaphor: The snail as a symbol of life and mortality
• Symbolism: The garden as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all living things

Conclusion:

"Considering the Snail" is a meditative and introspective poem that invites readers to reflect on the beauty and fragility of the natural world. The poem challenges us to consider our place in the interconnected web of life, and to recognize the significance of even the smallest creatures.

Poem Snippet:

"The whole of life before it. And it sees,

Before it, infinitely, yet as clear

As though ensconced within a crystal sphere,

The village where it lives and dies and is."

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