The meaning/message I got from this poem was..sometimes what your looking for is right under your nose. Or better yet, sometimes we're to busy looking at the entire picture or attempting to find its meaning quickly, when what makes the subject beautiful are the things we immediately figure are minute tools used to occupy space. Or, taking the poem in a literal and geographical sense, we sometimes look too far ahead and forget about what is going on right in front of us, we forget about the present. We are constantly bombarded with worrisome news, telling us to prepare for "this", do this now so you won't have to later, start saving money for retirement, in 2 years you will be..., if you do "this" now, you will be done in 5 years, etc. etc. Another concept is enjoying what you have... forget about changing or getting new things, appreciate what you already have and be grateful for it rather than discarding it like an old twig.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"Choices" For Us All
Surprisingly enough I liked this poem (and it is not because of how short it is). Gallagher gives an ordinary nest a whole new meaning. Actually, I think this poem is very similar to "The Red Wheelbarrow" by Williams, they both focus on one object and learn to appreciate it. In "Choices", the speaker prepares him/herself to cut saplings so that they can get a good view of the mountain in the background. But the speaker discovers a nest, has a change of heart, and cuts only to reveal all the other hidden nest's.
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I agree and totally enjoyed this poem as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right on track with a lot of this--point out thow the specific terms of the peom's elements--imnagery, rhythm structure, etc.--express some of this--overlooking the things before us, in quest perhaps for something more or greater, without realizing in mayby underfoot--how does the poem's specific imagery say this? you'd also want to clarify the "other," "hidden" nests, though, since part of the subtleness of the poem is the play on literal v figurative imagery; and that formal play is a presentation of how epiphanies work, right-the move from a literal observation to something "hidden" revealed, the move through imagination to the essential/symbolic? The brevity itself of the poem's form is functional, as far as recreating the experience of an epiphany? A more detailed comaprison to Williams' poem could also be interesting.
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