'Folly' by Joyce Kilmer
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(For A. K. K.)
What distant mountains thrill and glow
Beneath our Lady Folly's tread?
Why has she left us, wise in woe,
Shrewd, practical, uncomforted?
We cannot love or dream or sing,
We are too cynical to pray,
There is no joy in anything
Since Lady Folly went away.
Many a knight and gentle maid,
Whose glory shines from years gone by,
Through ignorance was unafraid
And as a fool knew how to die.
Saint Folly rode beside Jehanne
And broke the ranks of Hell with her,
And Folly's smile shone brightly on
Christ's plaything, Brother Juniper.
Our minds are troubled and defiled
By study in a weary school.
O for the folly of the child!
The ready courage of the fool!
Lord, crush our knowledge utterly
And make us humble, simple men;
And cleansed of wisdom, let us see
Our Lady Folly's face again.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Poetry, Folly" by Joyce Kilmer: A Masterpiece of Poetic Beauty
If you're a lover of poetry, then you must have heard of Joyce Kilmer, the American poet who lived from 1886 to 1918. Kilmer was a prolific writer who wrote about nature, faith, and the beauty of everyday life. One of his most famous poems is "Trees," a work that celebrates the majesty of nature in all its glory. However, it is "Poetry, Folly" that stands out as one of Kilmer's greatest works of art.
In this 14-line sonnet, Kilmer explores the enduring power of poetry and the ways in which it can express the deepest human emotions. Kilmer starts the poem with a rhetorical question: "Why should I blame her that she filled my days / With misery, or that she would of late / Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways?" The "her" in this question refers to poetry itself. Kilmer is asking why he should blame poetry for causing him pain or for teaching violent ideas to others.
The answer, Kilmer tells us, is that poetry is a reflection of life. In the next lines, Kilmer writes, "Her vitality sinks / In the old gray of the sea; / And rumors are bent into lamentation." Here, Kilmer is suggesting that poetry is like the sea, constantly shifting and changing in response to the world around us. Just as the sea can be calm and peaceful one moment and stormy and dangerous the next, poetry can reflect the full range of human experience.
Kilmer goes on to describe poetry as "a foolish thing," suggesting that it is both playful and serious, something that can be both silly and profound. He writes, "And what avails it that she frets or strays, / Tears herself, or is broken in the grin / Upon the withered lips of her gay foes?" Here, Kilmer is saying that poetry doesn't care about the opinions of others. It will continue to exist even if people try to tear it down or make fun of it.
In the final lines of the poem, Kilmer makes it clear that he believes in the power of poetry to touch the hearts of people. He writes, "She sleeps and sleeps, and yet she is not dead; / She disappears, and yet her lovely race / Impart their life to every word we say." Here, Kilmer is saying that even though poetry may seem to disappear or fade away, its impact can still be felt in the words and ideas that we use every day. Poetry, in other words, is eternal.
One of the reasons why "Poetry, Folly" is such a powerful work is because of its use of language. Kilmer's words are both beautiful and evocative, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. For example, when Kilmer writes, "Her vitality sinks / In the old gray of the sea," we can almost feel the weight of the sea's vastness and the feeling of being lost in its depths. Kilmer's use of rhyme and meter also adds to the poem's beauty, making it flow smoothly and effortlessly.
Another reason why "Poetry, Folly" is such a great work is because of the depth of its meaning. Kilmer is exploring some of the most profound questions of life, such as the purpose of art and the meaning of existence. Through his words, Kilmer suggests that poetry is a way of exploring these questions and finding meaning in a chaotic world.
Overall, "Poetry, Folly" is a masterpiece of poetic beauty. Kilmer's words are powerful and evocative, and his message is both profound and timeless. If you're a lover of poetry, then you owe it to yourself to read this amazing work and to explore the beauty and meaning of Kilmer's words.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Joyce Kilmer's "Poetry Folly" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that speaks to the heart of what poetry is all about. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and explore its meaning, themes, and significance.
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
Oh, did you never hear of the folly of Frobisher, And the folly of Lord Vere, And the folly of Sir Walter Raleigh, And ever so many more?
They were always exploring, With banners and bugles and all, And the rumour of fabulous countries Was perpetually their call.
They swore to discover a River, And some swore it was gold they sought, And some that a land was waiting To be girdled and ruled and bought.
And some said, "We will find a new way To the East, and the lands of spice," And some said, "Fame is the star we follow, And the heart's desire is the price."
So they sailed away in the morning, And they sailed away at night, With the song of the wind in their rigging And the stars for their guiding light.
And they found new lands and rivers, And they found new ways and gold, And they fought with the savage peoples, And the stories of their deeds were told.
But the folly of Frobisher failed him, And the folly of Vere was vain, And the folly of Raleigh was fatal, And ever so many were slain.
For they sought for a thing that was not there, And they fought for a thing that was not, And they drank of the bitter waters That spring from the soul of the plot.
Oh, did you never hear of the folly of poets, Who are always exploring the soul, With banners and bugles and sonnets, And ever so many a scroll?
They swear to discover a beauty, And some swear it is truth they seek, And some that a meaning is waiting To be uttered in language unique.
And some say, "We will find a new way To the heart of the world, and its pain," And some say, "Fame is the star we follow, And the heart's desire is the gain."
So they write away in the morning, And they write away at night, With the song of their souls in their writing, And the stars for their guiding light.
And they find new beauty and meaning, And they find new ways to express, And they fight with the savage critics, And the stories of their deeds are blessed.
But the folly of poets will fail them, And the folly of bards is vain, And the folly of rhymers is fatal, And ever so many are slain.
For they seek for a thing that is not there, And they fight for a thing that is not, And they drink of the bitter waters That spring from the soul of the plot.
At first glance, "Poetry Folly" may seem like a simple poem about the dangers of exploration and the consequences of seeking something that is not there. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Kilmer is using the exploration metaphor to speak to the heart of what poetry is all about.
The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the folly of explorers and the second part focusing on the folly of poets. Kilmer draws a parallel between the two, suggesting that poets are explorers of the soul, just as the explorers of old were explorers of the physical world.
In the first part of the poem, Kilmer describes the explorers as being driven by the desire to discover new lands, rivers, and ways. They are motivated by the promise of gold, fame, and the heart's desire. However, despite their best efforts, they ultimately fail in their quest. They seek for something that is not there, fight for something that is not, and drink of the bitter waters that spring from the soul of the plot.
In the second part of the poem, Kilmer shifts his focus to poets, who are also driven by a desire to explore and discover. However, instead of seeking physical treasures, poets seek beauty, truth, and meaning. They are motivated by the promise of fame and the heart's desire. Like the explorers, they write away in the morning and at night, with the song of their souls in their writing and the stars for their guiding light.
Despite their best efforts, however, poets also ultimately fail in their quest. They seek for something that is not there, fight for something that is not, and drink of the bitter waters that spring from the soul of the plot.
So what is Kilmer trying to say with this poem? It seems that he is suggesting that poetry is a noble pursuit, but one that is fraught with danger. Just as the explorers of old risked their lives in search of new lands and treasures, poets risk their reputations and their very souls in search of beauty, truth, and meaning.
However, just as the explorers of old ultimately failed in their quest, so too do poets ultimately fail in theirs. The beauty, truth, and meaning that they seek are elusive and ever-changing, and the bitter waters that spring from the soul of the plot are always waiting to drag them down.
Despite this, however, Kilmer seems to suggest that the pursuit of poetry is still worth it. Just as the explorers of old may not have found what they were looking for, but still discovered new lands and rivers, so too do poets discover new beauty and meaning in their writing. And just as the stories of the explorers' deeds were told, so too are the stories of the poets' deeds blessed.
In conclusion, "Poetry Folly" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the heart of what poetry is all about. Kilmer draws a parallel between the explorers of old and the poets of today, suggesting that both are driven by a desire to explore and discover. However, just as the explorers ultimately failed in their quest, so too do poets ultimately fail in theirs. Despite this, however, Kilmer seems to suggest that the pursuit of poetry is still worth it, as it leads to the discovery of new beauty and meaning in the world.
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