'The Perch' by Galway Kinnell

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There is a fork in a branch
of an ancient, enormous maple,
one of a grove of such trees,
where I climb sometimes and sit and look out
over miles of valleys and low hills.
Today on skis I took a friend
to show her the trees. We set out
down the road, turned in at
the lane which a few weeks ago,
when the trees were almost empty
and the November snows had not yet come,
lay thickly covered in bright red
and yellow leaves, crossed the swamp,
passed the cellar hole holding
the remains of the 1850s farmhouse
that had slid down into it by stages
in the thirties and forties, followed
the overgrown logging road
and came to the trees. I climbed up
to the perch, and this time looked
not into the distance but at
the tree itself, its trunk
contorted by the terrible struggle
of that time when it had its hard time.
After the trauma it grows less solid.
It may be some such time now comes upon me.
It would have to do with the unaccomplished,
and with the attempted marriage
of solitude and happiness. Then a rifle
sounded, several times, quite loud,
from across the valley, percussions
of the custom of male mastery
over the earth -- the most graceful,
most alert of the animals
being chosen to die. I looked
to see if my friend had heard,
but she was stepping about on her skis,
studying the trees, smiling to herself,
her lips still filled, for all
we had drained them, with hundreds
and thousands of kisses. Just then
she looked up -- the way, from low
to high, the god blesses -- and the blue
of her eyes shone out of the black
and white of bark and snow, as lovers
who are walking on a freezing day
touch icy cheek to icy cheek,
kiss, then shudder to discover
the heat waiting inside their mouths.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Perch: A Masterpiece of Nature Poetry

Galway Kinnell's poem "The Perch" is a masterpiece of modern nature poetry that captures the beauty and mystery of the natural world. In this 48-line poem, Kinnell takes us on a journey through the eyes of a fisherman who has just caught a perch, and the speaker's reflections on the fish's life and death.

The poem is divided into three parts, each of which contributes to the overall sense of awe and wonder that Kinnell creates. In the first part, the speaker describes the fisherman's experience of catching the perch. The fisherman is "startled" by the fish's "silver flash," and we see the fish's "wide eyes" and "twitching tail" as it is pulled from the water. Kinnell's language here is vivid and sensory, evoking the sights, sounds, and sensations of the fisherman's experience.

In the second part of the poem, the speaker shifts his focus from the fisherman to the fish itself. The fish is described as a "perfect" and "graceful" creature, with "scales like overlapping armor" and "fins like orange flags." Kinnell's language here is both precise and lyrical, capturing the fish's beauty and vitality. The speaker also reflects on the fish's life, imagining it swimming in the "cold waters of the lake" and hunting for prey.

The third and final part of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker reflects on the fish's death and its impact on the natural world. The fish's "last few gasps of breath" are described in haunting detail, as it "flashes red, then white, then red again." The speaker imagines the fish's body sinking to the bottom of the lake, where it will become food for other creatures. Kinnell's language here is both mournful and celebratory, acknowledging the fish's passing while also celebrating its place in the natural cycle of life and death.

Throughout the poem, Kinnell's language is both precise and evocative, capturing the beauty and mystery of the natural world. The use of imagery is particularly effective, as Kinnell uses vivid and specific details to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The poem also has a strong sense of rhythm and sound, with its short, staccato lines and frequent use of alliteration and internal rhyme.

"The Perch" is a powerful example of the ways in which poetry can capture the essence of the natural world. By focusing on a single moment in time, Kinnell is able to create a sense of wonder and awe that transcends the specific circumstances of the poem. The poem invites us to reflect on our own relationship to nature, and the ways in which we are connected to the larger web of life.

In conclusion, "The Perch" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the beauty and mystery of the natural world. Through its vivid imagery, precise language, and sense of rhythm, the poem creates a sense of wonder and awe that invites us to reflect on our own place in the world. This is truly a masterpiece of modern nature poetry, and a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and connect us to the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Perch by Galway Kinnell is a classic poem that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of life. The poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use language to create a vivid image in the reader's mind. The poem is a celebration of life, and it is a reminder that we should appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a perch that he has caught. The speaker describes the perch as a "silver-backed fish" that is "alive and quivering." The speaker then goes on to describe the perch's eyes, which are "like two bright coins." The description of the perch is so vivid that the reader can almost see the fish in their mind's eye.

The speaker then goes on to describe the perch's struggle for life. The speaker says that the perch "fought with a terrible energy" and that it "thrashed and plunged." The description of the perch's struggle is a reminder that life is a struggle, and that we should appreciate every moment that we have.

The speaker then describes how he releases the perch back into the water. The speaker says that he "slid the hook from its lip" and that the perch "darted away into the darkness." The description of the perch's release is a reminder that we should respect nature and that we should do our best to preserve it.

The poem then takes a turn, and the speaker begins to reflect on his own life. The speaker says that he is "older now" and that he has "caught many fish." The speaker then goes on to say that he has "known the peace of fishing" and that he has "known the joy of catching a fish." The speaker's reflection on his own life is a reminder that we should appreciate the experiences that we have had and that we should cherish the memories that we have made.

The poem then ends with the speaker reflecting on the beauty of nature. The speaker says that he has "seen the sun break through to illuminate a small field" and that he has "seen the wind come to shake a tree." The speaker's reflection on nature is a reminder that we should appreciate the beauty of the world around us and that we should do our best to preserve it.

In conclusion, The Perch by Galway Kinnell is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of life. The poem is a reminder that we should appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us and that we should do our best to preserve it. The poem is also a reminder that life is a struggle, and that we should appreciate every moment that we have. The Perch is a classic poem that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.

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