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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Carmel Point" is a poem by Robinson Jeffers, first published in 1948. It is a meditation on the beauty and power of nature, as well as the transience of human life. The poem takes place on Carmel Point, a scenic headland in California where Jeffers lived for many years. Explanation: The poem begins with a description of the rugged beauty of the Carmel coastline, with its steep cliffs and pounding surf. The speaker marvels at the power of the ocean, which has shaped the rocky shoreline over millions of years. He contrasts this ancient and enduring landscape with the fleeting lives of humans, who come and go like waves on the shore. The speaker then turns his attention to a group of birds flying over the coastline, which he identifies as pelicans. He describes them as "graceful beasts" with "great wings" that carry them effortlessly over the waves. He sees in their flight a symbol of the freedom and beauty that can be found in the natural world. The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker reflects on the destructive power of humans. He describes the "huge grooved blocks" that line the shoreline, remnants of a quarry that was once operated on the site. He contrasts the brutal methods used to extract the stone with the graceful flight of the pelicans, suggesting that human beings have lost touch with the natural world. The poem concludes with a call to return to nature and to rediscover the beauty and power that can be found there. The speaker urges us to "turn our eyes / From the evil in the world" and to seek solace and inspiration in the wild and untamed beauty of the natural world. Poetic Elements:
Summary: "Carmel Point" is a powerful meditation on the beauty and power of the natural world, and a lament for the damage humans have done to it. Jeffers' vivid imagery and powerful symbolism create a sense of awe and wonder at the rugged coastline and the pelicans in flight, while his contemplative tone invites the reader to reflect on our place in the world and our relationship with nature. Poem Snippet:
"Here is a coast; here is a harbor; Here, after a meager diet of horizon, is some scenery: Impractically shaped and--who knows?--self-pitying mountains, Sad and harsh beneath their frivolous greenery, With a little church on top of one. And warehouses, Some of them painted Caribbean vermillion, Garrulous fishnets hanging drying against the wall Of the turquoise sea-pounded cannery pier; The inhabited manifold flats of the island Facing each other like a ridiculous army Of tombstones staring here and there, for it is Equals after all, and the light is risen, miracles occur, If you care to call those spasmodic Trails of red fire across the sky miracles. The impoverished radio-announcer Says 'El Toro' and 'El Dorado' at nightfall And screams 'Paraguay,' 'Honduras,' and 'Haiti' For hours after Santiago's dead."
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