'The Sad Message' by Russell Edson
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PloughsharesFall 1991The Captain becomes moody at sea. He's
afraid of water; such bully amounts that prove the
seas. . .A glass of water is one thing. A man easily downs
it, capturing its menace in his bladder; pissing it
away. A few drops of rain do little harm, save to
remind of how grief looks upon the cheek.One day the water is willing to bear your ship
upon its back like a liquid elephant. The next day
the elephant doesn't want you on its back, and
says, I have no more willingness to have you
there; get off.At sea this is a sad message.The Captain sits in his cabin wearing a
parachute, listening to what the sea might say. . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Sad Message by Russell Edson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Russell Edson, the American poet and playwright, is known for his surreal and absurd style of writing. His work often defies logic and explores the inner workings of the human psyche. In "The Sad Message," Edson presents a poem that is both haunting and thought-provoking.
The Poem
The poem begins with the speaker receiving a sad message from a bird. The message is so sad that the speaker cannot bear to hear it, and he puts the bird in a cage to keep it from repeating the message. The bird becomes a symbol of the speaker's own emotions, which he is trying to control and contain.
As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes more and more obsessed with the message. He begins to feel that the bird is mocking him, and he becomes angry with it. He tries to break the bird's spirit by depriving it of food and water. Eventually, the bird dies, and the speaker is left alone with his own sadness.
The Themes
At its core, "The Sad Message" is a poem about the human experience of grief and loss. The bird represents the speaker's own emotions, which he is trying to cage and control. The poem suggests that this is an impossible task, and that the only way to deal with grief is to face it head-on.
The poem also explores the theme of power and control. The speaker is trying to exert his control over the bird, but ultimately he fails. This can be seen as a commentary on the human desire for control in the face of overwhelming emotions.
The Style
One of the defining features of Edson's writing is his use of surreal and absurd imagery. In "The Sad Message," this is exemplified by the image of a bird delivering a message. The bird is not a typical messenger, and this adds to the overall strangeness of the poem.
The poem is also notable for its use of repetition. The phrase "sad message" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing its importance. This repetition creates a sense of unease and tension, as the reader is left wondering what the message could be.
The Interpretation
"The Sad Message" is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. One possible interpretation is that the bird represents the speaker's own subconscious, and the message is something that he is trying to repress. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the speaker becomes increasingly obsessed with the message as the poem progresses.
Another possible interpretation is that the bird and its message represent death. The speaker's attempts to control and contain the bird could be seen as a metaphor for the human desire to avoid death. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the bird eventually dies, leaving the speaker alone with his own sadness.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Sad Message" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and control. Edson's use of surreal imagery and repetition create a sense of unease and tension, making the poem both haunting and memorable. While the poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, its central message remains clear: the only way to deal with grief is to face it head-on.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Sad Message: A Masterpiece of Surrealist Poetry
Russell Edson, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th century, is known for his surreal and absurd poetry that challenges the conventional notions of reality and language. His poem "The Sad Message" is a perfect example of his unique style and vision. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem begins with a simple and straightforward statement: "The postman comes when I am still in bed." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a surreal and dreamlike narrative that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination. The speaker of the poem is a person who receives a sad message from the postman, but the message itself is never revealed. Instead, the poem focuses on the speaker's reaction to the message and the strange events that follow.
The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's physical state when the postman arrives. He is still in bed, which suggests that he is not fully awake or alert. This state of half-consciousness is important because it creates a sense of disorientation and confusion that permeates the rest of the poem. The speaker is not sure what is happening or why, and this uncertainty is reflected in the language and imagery of the poem.
The second stanza introduces the postman, who is described as "a monster with a red and black mouth." This description is both surreal and menacing, suggesting that the postman is not a normal human being but a creature from a nightmare. The use of colors, red and black, is also significant because they are associated with danger and death. The postman is not just a messenger but a harbinger of doom.
The third stanza is where the poem takes a surreal turn. The speaker tries to hide from the postman by crawling under the bed, but he finds himself in a strange and unfamiliar place. He is "in a forest of pine cones," surrounded by a "thousand eyes." This sudden shift in setting and imagery is disorienting and confusing, but it also creates a sense of wonder and mystery. The forest of pine cones is a surreal and dreamlike landscape that defies logic and reason. The eyes that surround the speaker are also mysterious and symbolic, suggesting that he is being watched or judged by some unknown force.
The fourth stanza continues the surreal narrative, as the speaker encounters a "man with a musical instrument." This man is described as "a bird with a hundred hearts," which is another example of the surreal and imaginative language that Edson uses throughout the poem. The man's musical instrument is also significant because it suggests that he is a symbol of creativity and imagination. The speaker is drawn to this man and his music, which provides a moment of beauty and escape from the sadness and confusion of the previous stanzas.
The fifth stanza brings the poem back to reality, as the speaker wakes up from his dream and realizes that the sad message was just a dream. This realization is a moment of relief and clarity, as the speaker is able to separate the dream from reality. However, the poem ends on a melancholy note, as the speaker reflects on the sadness and loneliness that he feels in his waking life. The final lines of the poem are haunting and powerful: "I am alone with an empty heart / and a rusted mailbox."
The Sad Message is a masterpiece of surreal poetry that explores the themes of loneliness, confusion, and imagination. Edson's use of surreal and imaginative language creates a dreamlike landscape that defies logic and reason, but also reveals deeper truths about the human experience. The postman, the forest of pine cones, and the man with the musical instrument are all symbols of the speaker's inner world, reflecting his fears, desires, and hopes. The poem is a journey through the speaker's subconscious, a journey that is both unsettling and enlightening.
In conclusion, The Sad Message is a remarkable poem that showcases Russell Edson's unique vision and style. It is a poem that challenges the reader's perception of reality and language, and invites us to explore the mysteries of the human mind. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and beauty of the human experience, and to reveal the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface of our everyday lives.
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