Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Elizabeth" is a poem by Michael Ondaatje, first published in his 1998 collection of poetry, "Handwriting." The poem is named after Elizabeth Smart, a Canadian poet and novelist who Ondaatje was briefly involved with in the 1970s. The poem explores themes of love, desire, and the passing of time.

Explanation:

"Elizabeth" is a love poem that describes the speaker's feelings for the titular character, whom they compare to a "wrecked galleon" and a "strange flotsam." The poem explores the idea of love being a force that can transcend time and space, with the speaker longing to be reunited with Elizabeth, even if it means traveling through "many doors" and "corridors of light."

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of three stanzas, each comprising seven lines.
• Imagery: The use of metaphors and similes throughout the poem, such as comparing Elizabeth to a "wrecked galleon," create vivid and striking images in the reader's mind.
• Repetition: The repetition of the word "Elizabeth" throughout the poem reinforces the speaker's obsession with the titular character.
• Enjambment: The use of enjambment throughout the poem creates a sense of flow and movement, as the ideas and images spillover from one line to the next.

Conclusion:

"Elizabeth" is a beautiful and haunting love poem that explores the themes of love, desire, and the passage of time. Through the use of vivid imagery, repetition, and enjambment, Ondaatje creates a powerful and memorable portrait of the speaker's longing for the titular character.

Poem Snippet:

"Elizabeth, where are you.

Your breath is the wind

driven by seas through salt grass.

It is the light on needles of southern pine."