'Still' by Wislawa Szymborska
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In sealed box cars travel
names across the land,
and how far they will travel so,
and will they ever get out,
don't ask, I won't say, I don't know.
The name Nathan strikes fist against wall,
the name Isaac, demented, sings,
the name Sarah calls out for water for
the name Aaron that's dying of thirst.
Don't jump while it's moving, name David.
You're a name that dooms to defeat,
given to no one, and homeless,
too heavy to bear in this land.
Let your son have a Slavic name,
for here they count hairs on the head,
for here they tell good from evil
by names and by eyelids' shape.
Don't jump while it's moving. Your son will be Lech.
Don't jump while it's moving. Not time yet.
Don't jump. The night echoes like laughter
mocking clatter of wheels upon tracks.
A cloud made of people moved over the land,
a big cloud gives a small rain, one tear,
a small rain—one tear, a dry season.
Tracks lead off into black forest.
Cor-rect, cor-rect clicks the wheel. Gladeless forest.
Cor-rect, cor-rect. Through the forest a convoy of clamors.
Cor-rect, cor-rect. Awakened in the night I hear
cor-rect, cor-rect, crash of silence on silence.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Still: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Wislawa Szymborska is a Polish poet who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996. Her poems are known for their simplicity, precision, and wit. One of her most famous poems is "Still," which was first published in 1976. The poem is only ten lines long, yet it captures the essence of life, death, and the human condition in a profound and poignant way. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of "Still," exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The Poem
Before delving into the analysis of the poem, let us first read it in its entirety:
Still
I am hanging in the middle of a sentence, a dried-up fountain pen, a black fly on a white sheet, coquettish in its way.
I am caught in the middle of a moment, a spider in its web, trembling with each breeze, knowing that it will all end.
I am suspended in the middle of a life, a feather on a string, swaying to the rhythm of the wind, awaiting the final cut.
Themes
The central theme of "Still" is the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem represents life as a suspended state, a momentary pause in the endless flow of time. The speaker compares themselves to a "dried-up fountain pen" and a "black fly on a white sheet," both of which are static and lifeless. The image of the fountain pen suggests a writer who has run out of words, while the fly represents a fleeting moment of life, ephemeral and fragile.
The speaker also compares themselves to a spider in its web, trembling with each breeze, knowing that its life is precarious and fleeting. The spider's web is a metaphor for the fragile nature of life, and the breeze represents the forces of change and impermanence. The spider's fate, like that of the speaker, is sealed.
Finally, the speaker compares themselves to a feather on a string, swaying to the rhythm of the wind, awaiting the final cut. The image of the feather suggests a delicate and light object, easily moved by external forces. The string represents the thread of life, and the wind symbolizes the forces of fate and destiny. The final cut is death, the ultimate end of life, as inevitable as gravity.
Thus, the poem is a meditation on the inevitability of death, and the fleeting nature of life. It reminds us of the fragility and preciousness of life, and the need to appreciate each moment before it is gone.
Imagery
The imagery in "Still" is rich and evocative, conjuring up vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The images of the dried-up fountain pen and the black fly on a white sheet are powerful metaphors for the speaker's state of being. The fountain pen suggests a writer who has run out of words, and the fly represents a momentary pause in the endless flow of time. The contrast between the black fly and the white sheet emphasizes the fleeting nature of life, and the contrast between light and darkness.
The image of the spider in its web is also a powerful metaphor, suggesting the fragility and precariousness of life. The web represents the delicate balance of life, and the spider's trembling suggests the fear and uncertainty that are inherent in the human condition.
The image of the feather on a string is perhaps the most poignant of all. The feather symbolizes the lightness and delicacy of life, while the string represents the thread of life, the forces that bind us to our destiny. The swaying of the feather suggests the movement of life, the many changes and fluctuations that we experience. The wind represents the forces of fate and destiny, the ultimate power that controls our lives. The final cut is death, the ultimate end of life, as inevitable as gravity.
Thus, the imagery in "Still" is powerful and evocative, conveying the central themes of the poem with great precision and elegance.
Language
The language in "Still" is simple yet elegant, conveying complex ideas in a few well-chosen words. The poem is written in the first person, which gives it a personal and intimate feel. The use of metaphors and imagery is also effective, creating vivid pictures in the reader's mind.
The use of enjambment is also notable, as it creates a sense of continuity and flow in the poem. The lines flow seamlessly into each other, as if the speaker is caught in the middle of a moment, suspended in time.
The use of alliteration is also effective, creating a musical quality in the poem. For example, the repetition of the "w" sound in "swaying to the rhythm of the wind" creates a sense of movement and flow.
The language in "Still" is spare and precise, conveying complex ideas with great economy. The poem is a testament to the power of language, and the ability of poetry to capture the essence of life in a few simple words.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Still" is a masterpiece of poetry, a profound meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is a testament to the power of language, and the ability of poetry to convey complex ideas with great economy. The imagery in the poem is rich and evocative, conjuring up vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The language is elegant and precise, conveying the central themes of the poem with great clarity and simplicity. "Still" is a poem that reminds us of the fragility and preciousness of life, and the need to appreciate each moment before it is gone.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Still by Wislawa Szymborska: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Wislawa Szymborska, the Polish poet and Nobel laureate, is known for her ability to capture the essence of the human experience in her poetry. Her poem "Still" is a prime example of her mastery of language and her ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity and clarity. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "Still" to understand why it is considered a classic of modern poetry.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "I am looking at stillness." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the nature of stillness and its relationship to life and death. The speaker describes the stillness as "a glass full of nothing," which suggests that it is both empty and full at the same time. This paradoxical image sets the stage for the rest of the poem, which is full of contradictions and ambiguities.
One of the key themes of "Still" is the relationship between life and death. The speaker describes the stillness as "the death of a moment," which suggests that stillness is a kind of death. However, the speaker also describes the stillness as "the birth of a moment," which suggests that stillness is also a kind of birth. This paradoxical image suggests that life and death are not opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin.
Another theme of "Still" is the relationship between the individual and the universe. The speaker describes the stillness as "the universe without me," which suggests that the individual is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, the speaker also describes the stillness as "the universe within me," which suggests that the individual contains the universe within themselves. This paradoxical image suggests that the individual is both insignificant and significant at the same time.
The imagery of "Still" is rich and evocative. The speaker describes the stillness as "a glass full of nothing," "a stone on the bottom of the river," and "a cloud on the horizon." These images suggest that stillness is both tangible and intangible, both solid and ephemeral. The speaker also uses the image of a "mirror" to describe the stillness, which suggests that stillness is a reflection of the self.
The language of "Still" is simple and direct, but also full of nuance and ambiguity. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the speaker to explore the themes and imagery in a flexible and fluid way. The use of paradox and contradiction adds depth and complexity to the poem, and the repetition of certain phrases ("I am looking at stillness," "I am looking at nothing") creates a sense of rhythm and momentum.
In conclusion, "Still" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the themes of life and death, the individual and the universe, and the tangible and intangible. The imagery is rich and evocative, and the language is simple yet nuanced. The poem is a meditation on the nature of stillness and its relationship to the human experience, and it invites the reader to contemplate the mysteries of existence. Wislawa Szymborska's "Still" is a classic of modern poetry that continues to inspire and challenge readers to this day.
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