'Cirque D'Hiver' by Elizabeth Bishop
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fit for a king of several centuries back.
A little circus horse with real white hair.
His eyes are glossy black.
He bears a little dancer on his back.She stands upon her toes and turns and turns.
A slanting spray of artificial roses
is stitched across her skirt and tinsel bodice.
Above her head she poses
another spray of artificial roses.His mane and tail are straight from Chirico.
He has a formal, melancholy soul.
He feels her pink toes dangle toward his back
along the little pole
that pierces both her body and her souland goes through his, and reappears below,
under his belly, as a big tin key.
He canters three steps, then he makes a bow,
canters again, bows on one knee,
canters, then clicks and stops, and looks at me.The dancer, by this time, has turned her back.
He is the more intelligent by far.
Facing each other rather desperately-
his eye is like a star-
we stare and say, "Well, we have come this far."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Cirque D'Hiver: A Haunting Reflection on Life and Death
Elizabeth Bishop's Cirque D'Hiver is a haunting reflection on the human condition, its joys and sorrows, its fleeting moments and lasting memories. Through vivid and evocative imagery, Bishop paints a portrait of a circus in winter, a place of wonder and danger, where life and death dance a dangerous tango.
At the heart of the poem lies the figure of the trapeze artist, a symbol of the human quest for transcendence, for the impossible dream of flying. The trapeze artist is both a hero and a victim, a symbol of courage and vulnerability, of grace and fear. He embodies the paradox of human existence, the beauty and fragility of life.
The poem opens with a description of the circus in winter, a place of darkness and silence, where the animals sleep and the tents are empty. The image of the deserted circus creates a sense of foreboding, of something ominous lurking in the shadows. The poet's use of the word "haunted" suggests a ghostly presence, a memory that refuses to die.
But as the poem unfolds, the circus comes to life, like a ghost that has been awakened from its slumber. The trapeze artist appears, like a dream come true, defying gravity and death. He is a master of his craft, a magician who can turn fear into beauty, who can make the impossible possible.
The poet's use of imagery is particularly striking in this section of the poem. The trapeze artist is described as "a little charioteer," a reference to the ancient Greek myth of Phaeton, who tried to drive the sun chariot across the sky and was struck down by Zeus. The trapeze artist is also compared to a "swallow" and a "flash of light," suggesting his speed and agility, his ability to soar above the earth.
But despite his grace and skill, the trapeze artist is also vulnerable, exposed to the whims of fate. He is "a child," "a dummy," "a man," a symbol of the many roles we play in life, of our shifting identities and fragile egos. He is also a victim of his own ambition, his own desire to reach for the stars. The image of him falling "inches or yards" suggests the arbitrary nature of fate, the fine line between success and failure, life and death.
The poem reaches its climax in the final stanza, where the trapeze artist becomes a metaphor for the human condition as a whole. He is "our whole life's balancing act," a reminder that we are all performers on the world's stage, struggling to maintain our balance in the face of life's challenges and uncertainties. He is also "a little figure," a tiny speck in the grand scheme of things, a reminder of our own insignificance in the face of the vastness of the universe.
But despite his smallness, the trapeze artist is also a hero, a symbol of human courage and resilience. He is "a god," "a star," a reminder of our own capacity for greatness, for overcoming the odds and achieving the impossible. And yet, he is also a victim, a reminder of our own mortality, of the fact that our time on earth is limited and precious.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Bishop's Cirque D'Hiver is a masterpiece of poetic expression, a haunting reflection on the human condition, its joys and sorrows, its beauty and fragility. Through vivid and evocative imagery, Bishop captures the essence of the circus in winter, a place of wonder and danger, where life and death dance a dangerous tango. The trapeze artist is a symbol of the human quest for transcendence, for the impossible dream of flying. He is a hero and a victim, a reminder of our own courage and vulnerability, of our own mortality and greatness. The poem is a haunting reminder of the fleeting nature of life, and the need to embrace every moment, to live fully and passionately, before the final curtain falls.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The world of poetry is a vast and beautiful one, filled with countless masterpieces that have stood the test of time. One such masterpiece is Elizabeth Bishop's "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver," a stunning work of art that captures the essence of the circus in all its glory.
At its core, "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver" is a celebration of the circus, a place where the impossible becomes possible and the mundane is transformed into the extraordinary. Bishop's poem is a vivid and colorful portrayal of the circus, filled with images of acrobats, clowns, and animals that leap off the page and into the reader's imagination.
The poem begins with a description of the circus tent, which Bishop describes as "a huge balloon / tethered to earth." This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Bishop invites the reader to enter into a world that is both magical and grounded in reality.
As the poem progresses, Bishop introduces us to the various performers who make up the circus. There are the acrobats, who "fly like birds / through the air," and the clowns, who "tumble and fall / in a comic ballet." These performers are not just skilled professionals, but artists in their own right, creating beauty and wonder through their movements and actions.
Bishop also introduces us to the animals of the circus, who are both majestic and vulnerable. There are the elephants, who "sway and lumber / like great ships at sea," and the tigers, who "pace in their cages / like kings in a castle." These animals are not just objects to be gawked at, but living beings with their own personalities and desires.
Throughout the poem, Bishop uses vivid and evocative language to bring the circus to life. She describes the "smell of sawdust and animals," the "crack of the whip," and the "roar of the crowd." These sensory details transport the reader to the circus, allowing them to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this magical world.
But "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver" is more than just a celebration of the circus. It is also a meditation on the nature of art and creativity. Bishop writes:
"Art is the circus that
performs
every day of the year
in the small towns and
big cities of the world."
For Bishop, the circus is not just a form of entertainment, but a form of art. Like the circus performers, artists create beauty and wonder through their work, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
But Bishop also recognizes the darker side of the circus. She writes of the "lonely clown / who weeps in his tent," and the "animals who dream / of the jungle and the sea." These images remind us that the circus, like any form of art, can be both beautiful and cruel.
In the end, "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver" is a celebration of the human spirit. It is a reminder that, no matter how difficult life may be, there is always beauty and wonder to be found in the world around us. Bishop writes:
"Life is the circus that
performs
every day of the year
in the small towns and
big cities of the world."
In this way, Bishop invites us to see the world as a circus, a place where anything is possible and the impossible becomes real. It is a message of hope and inspiration, reminding us that, no matter how difficult life may be, there is always something to celebrate.
In conclusion, "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver" is a stunning work of art that captures the essence of the circus in all its glory. Through vivid and evocative language, Bishop transports the reader to a world of wonder and magic, celebrating the beauty and creativity of the circus. But the poem is also a meditation on the nature of art and creativity, reminding us that, like the circus, art can be both beautiful and cruel. Ultimately, "Poetry Cirque D'Hiver" is a celebration of the human spirit, a reminder that, no matter how difficult life may be, there is always something to celebrate.
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