Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"One Thing in Life" is a poem by Gerald Stern, first published in his collection "American Sonnets" in 2002. The poem reflects on the inevitability of death and the importance of cherishing the simple pleasures in life.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker contemplating death, asking "Is it not always thus?" and reflecting on the idea that everything must come to an end. The speaker then shifts to considering the things in life that are worth holding onto, the "little treasures" that make life worth living. These simple pleasures include the taste of a ripe peach, the feeling of water on the skin, and the sight of a bird in flight.

The poem then turns to a memory of the speaker's childhood, when he and his brother spent time together at the beach. The speaker remembers how his brother held onto a piece of driftwood, unwilling to let it go even after it was time to leave. The image of his brother clinging to the driftwood serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own desire to hold onto the simple pleasures of life.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, without a regular rhyme scheme or meter. It is divided into three stanzas of varying lengths.
• Imagery: The poem is rich in sensory imagery, with vivid descriptions of tastes, textures, and sights. The images of the peach, the water, and the bird in flight are particularly striking.
• Metaphor: The image of the brother clinging to the piece of driftwood serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own desire to hold onto the simple pleasures of life.

Conclusion:

"One Thing in Life" is a poignant reflection on the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing the simple pleasures. Through vivid sensory imagery and a powerful metaphor, the poem encourages readers to hold onto what is truly valuable and meaningful in life, even as everything else falls away.

Poem Snippet:

"I have seen the sun break through

to illuminate a small field

for a while, and gone my way

and forgotten it. But that was the pearl”

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