'Salmon' by Jorie Graham

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I watched them once, at dusk, on television, run,
in our motel room half-way through
Nebraska, quick, glittering, past beauty, past
the importance of beauty.,
archaic,
not even hungry, not even endangered, driving deeper and deeper
into less. They leapt up falls, ladders,
and rock, tearing and leaping, a gold river,
and a blue river traveling
in opposite directions.
They would not stop, resolution of will
and helplessness, as the eye
is helpless
when the image forms itself, upside-down, backward,
driving up into
the mind, and the world
unfastens itself
from the deep ocean of the given. . .Justice, aspen
leaves, mother attempting
suicide, the white night-flying moth
the ants dismantled bit by bit and carried in
right through the crack
in my wall. . . .How helpless
the still pool is,
upstream,
awaiting the gold blade
of their hurry. Once, indoors, a child,
I watched, at noon, through slatted wooden blinds,
a man and woman, naked, eyes closed,
climb onto each other,
on the terrace floor,
and ride--two gold currents
wrapping round and round each other, fastening,
unfastening. I hardly knew
what I saw. Whatever shadow there was in that world
it was the one each cast
onto the other,
the thin black seam
they seemed to be trying to work away
between them. I held my breath.
as far as I could tell, the work they did
with sweat and light
was good. I'd say
they traveled far in opposite
directions. What is the light
at the end of the day, deep, reddish-gold, bathing the walls,
the corridors, light that is no longer light, no longer clarifies,
illuminates, antique, freed from the body of
that air that carries it. What is it
for the space of time
where it is useless, merely
beautiful? When they were done, they made a distance
one from the other
and slept, outstretched,
on the warm tile
of the terrace floor,
smiling, faces pressed against the stone.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Majestic Depths of Jorie Graham's Salmon

As I read Jorie Graham's "Salmon," I am filled with a sense of awe and wonder. How can a poem be so rich and multifaceted? How can it contain so much beauty and meaning in just a few short stanzas?

Perhaps it is the very subject of the poem that lends it such richness. The salmon is a creature that is both powerful and vulnerable, both majestic and fragile. It is a symbol of life and death, of the cycles of nature and the mysteries of existence.

But it is not just the subject matter that makes "Salmon" such a remarkable poem. It is also the language, the imagery, and the structure of the poem that work together to create a powerful and unforgettable experience for the reader.

The Language of the Poem

One of the first things that struck me about "Salmon" is the way that Jorie Graham uses language to create a sense of movement and fluidity. The poem is full of verbs that suggest motion and action: "leap," "swim," "surge," "dart." These words create a sense of energy and vitality, as if the salmon is constantly in motion, always striving towards some unknown destination.

But there is also a sense of danger and risk in these words. The salmon is not just moving for the sake of movement; it is moving to survive, to avoid predators, and to find a mate. The language of the poem reflects this sense of urgency and peril.

Another aspect of the language that stands out is the way that Graham uses repetition and variation. Certain phrases, such as "spawning-bed," "the deeps," and "the rain-heavy river," are repeated throughout the poem. But each time they appear, they are slightly different, as if the salmon is experiencing a new version of the same journey every time it swims upriver.

The Imagery of the Poem

The imagery in "Salmon" is both vivid and elusive. Graham paints a picture of the salmon's journey, but she also leaves much to the imagination. We see the salmon "leaping into the light," "swimming toward the dark," and "surging up the hill." But we also see the salmon "vanishing into the light," "disappearing into the dark," and "dissolving into the hill."

This sense of ambiguity is part of what makes the poem so powerful. We are not just seeing the salmon's journey; we are experiencing it with all its mystery and wonder. We are invited to contemplate the deeper meanings behind the salmon's movements, to ponder the cycles of life and death, and to consider our own place in the natural world.

The Structure of the Poem

Finally, there is the structure of the poem itself, which is both complex and organic. The poem is divided into six sections, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the salmon's journey. But these sections are not rigidly defined; they flow into each other, like the currents of a river.

Within each section, the lines of the poem are arranged in a way that suggests the movement of the salmon. Some lines are short and staccato, like the fish darting through the water. Others are longer and more languid, like the fish drifting in the current. The structure of the poem mirrors the subject matter, creating a sense of unity between form and content.

Interpretation of the Poem

So what does all of this add up to? What is the deeper meaning behind "Salmon"? There are, of course, many possible interpretations. Here are a few that I find particularly compelling:

The Cycle of Life and Death

One of the most obvious themes of the poem is the cycle of life and death. The salmon is born in a river, swims out to sea, and then returns to the river to spawn and die. This cycle is repeated over and over again, generation after generation.

But the poem suggests that this cycle is not just about the individual fish; it is about the larger ecosystem of which the salmon is a part. The salmon provides food for other creatures, including humans. It also helps to fertilize the river, enriching the soil and supporting the growth of plants.

In this way, the cycle of life and death is not just about the salmon; it is about the interconnected web of life that sustains us all. The poem invites us to contemplate our own place in this web, and to consider the ways in which our actions affect the natural world.

The Search for Meaning

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the search for meaning. The salmon's journey is full of mystery and wonder, but it is also fraught with danger and uncertainty. Why does the salmon swim upstream? What drives it to risk its life in order to spawn?

These questions have no easy answers, and the poem does not try to provide them. Instead, it invites us to ponder the deeper meanings behind the salmon's movements, to consider the mysteries of existence, and to reflect on our own search for meaning and purpose.

The Power of Nature

Finally, there is the theme of the power of nature. The salmon is a symbol of the raw power and beauty of the natural world. It is a reminder of the forces that shape our lives and our planet, and of the fragility of our existence in the face of those forces.

But the poem also suggests that there is a kind of wisdom and resilience in nature that we can learn from. The salmon's journey is a testament to the power of instinct, of adaptation, and of the cyclical rhythms of life. It reminds us that we are not separate from nature, but a part of it, and that our fate is intertwined with the fate of the natural world.

Conclusion

"Salmon" is a poem that defies easy categorization. It is at once a celebration of the natural world and a meditation on the mysteries of existence. It is a poem that invites us to contemplate the cycles of life and death, the search for meaning, and the power of nature.

But more than anything else, it is a poem that fills me with a sense of wonder and awe. It is a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the world we inhabit, and of the limitless possibilities of language and imagination.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Salmon: A Deep Dive into Jorie Graham's Masterpiece

Jorie Graham's Poetry Salmon is a poem that has captivated readers for decades. It is a complex and multi-layered work that explores the nature of language, memory, and identity. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the poem, analyzing its structure, themes, and imagery to gain a better understanding of its meaning.

Structure

The poem is divided into six sections, each of which is comprised of several stanzas. The sections are not titled, but they are numbered, with the first section being "1." The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. However, there is a sense of rhythm and flow to the poem that is created by the repetition of certain phrases and the use of enjambment.

Themes

One of the central themes of the poem is the relationship between language and memory. The speaker of the poem is struggling to remember something, and she turns to language as a way of accessing her memories. She says, "I am trying to remember something / I once knew, something important / that I have forgotten." The poem suggests that language is a tool that we use to construct our memories and our identities. The speaker says, "I am trying to find the words / that will bring me back to myself."

Another theme of the poem is the idea of transformation. The title of the poem, Poetry Salmon, suggests a metamorphosis from one form to another. The salmon is a symbol of transformation, as it undergoes a radical change from a freshwater fish to a saltwater fish. The poem suggests that language and memory are also transformative, as they allow us to change and evolve over time.

Imagery

The poem is rich with imagery, and Graham uses a variety of metaphors and symbols to convey her ideas. One of the most striking images in the poem is the image of the salmon. The salmon is a powerful symbol of transformation, as it undergoes a radical change in order to survive. The speaker says, "I want to be like the salmon, / to swim upstream against the current / and find my way back to the source." This image suggests that the speaker is searching for a way to return to her origins, to rediscover something that she has lost.

Another powerful image in the poem is the image of the river. The river is a symbol of time and change, as it flows constantly and carries everything with it. The speaker says, "The river is always moving, / always changing, always the same." This image suggests that the speaker is aware of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

Analysis

The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that requires careful analysis to fully understand its meaning. The first section of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the work, as the speaker struggles to remember something that she has forgotten. She turns to language as a way of accessing her memories, saying, "I am trying to find the words / that will bring me back to myself." This suggests that language is a tool that we use to construct our memories and our identities.

The second section of the poem introduces the image of the salmon, which becomes a central metaphor for the rest of the work. The speaker says, "I want to be like the salmon, / to swim upstream against the current / and find my way back to the source." This image suggests that the speaker is searching for a way to return to her origins, to rediscover something that she has lost.

The third section of the poem introduces the image of the river, which becomes another central metaphor for the rest of the work. The speaker says, "The river is always moving, / always changing, always the same." This image suggests that the speaker is aware of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

The fourth section of the poem introduces the idea of transformation, as the speaker says, "I am trying to become something else, / something more than what I am." This suggests that the speaker is searching for a way to change and evolve over time.

The fifth section of the poem introduces the idea of language as a transformative tool, as the speaker says, "I am trying to find the words / that will transform me." This suggests that language is not just a tool for remembering, but also a tool for changing and evolving.

The final section of the poem brings all of these themes and images together, as the speaker says, "I am the salmon, / swimming upstream against the current / and finding my way back to the source." This suggests that the speaker has found a way to transform herself through language and memory, and has rediscovered something that she had lost.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Poetry Salmon is a complex and multi-layered work that explores the relationship between language, memory, and identity. The poem uses a variety of metaphors and symbols to convey its ideas, including the image of the salmon, the river, and the transformative power of language. Through careful analysis, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and appreciate its beauty and complexity.

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