'Thanksgiving' by Peter Klappert


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Chokecherries: New and Selected Poems, 1966-19992000What a day to dismantle a roller-coaster.
Well, they are taking it down--
the tracks are all over the ground
and the ties drawn up. The ticket office
is shut, the calliope covered with tarps.These workmen move their rides
from town to town, with the weather,
and a day gained dismantling
is a day to them. They are grateful
for the day gained, and for the silence
in a park where only ducks and I remain.As if against the numb fall sky,
sounds of hammers and crowbars
and the changing voice of one man's oldest son
rebound from pond to light pole and away.
Tomorrow they'll be on their way
to Arkansas, or a place they haven't
been before; today they're making time.Today they're making time. The doors
of the van are open, the van is dark.
The cars stand there in a line, as if
they are not well or have something
to tell the man who stands on the tail-gate.
This corner of the park is nearly flat.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Thanksgiving by Peter Klappert: A Critical Analysis

Thanksgiving, a poem by Peter Klappert, is a beautiful piece of work that captures the essence of the holiday in a unique way. The poem is a reflection on the celebration of Thanksgiving and all that it entails. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the poem in detail, examining its themes, literary devices, and overall meaning.

Background Information

Peter Klappert is an American poet who was born in 1942 in New York City. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including The Idiot Princess of the Last Dynasty, and A Spell for Green Corn. Klappert has won several awards for his work, including the Walt Whitman Award, the Academy of American Poets Prize, and the Pushcart Prize.

Thanksgiving was first published in The Atlantic in 1983. The poem has since become a classic, and is often read at Thanksgiving celebrations around the world.

Themes

The poem explores several themes, including gratitude, family, tradition, and the passing of time. The central theme of the poem, however, is the idea of home.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the journey home for Thanksgiving. The speaker talks about the sights and sounds of the journey, and the anticipation of arriving home. The idea of home is repeated throughout the poem, as the speaker reflects on the memories and traditions associated with the holiday.

The poem also explores the theme of family. The speaker describes the various family members who will be present at the celebration, and the memories associated with each of them. The poem is a celebration of family, and the love and connection that bind them together.

Another theme that is explored in the poem is the passing of time. The speaker reflects on the changes that have taken place over the years, both in their own life and in the lives of their family members. The passing of time is a reminder of the importance of gratitude, and the need to cherish the moments that we have with the people we love.

Literary Devices

The poem is rich in literary devices, which help to create a sense of beauty and depth. Some of the key literary devices used in the poem include:

Imagery

The poem is full of vivid imagery, which helps to create a sense of place and atmosphere. The use of imagery is particularly effective in the opening lines of the poem, where the speaker describes the journey home:

"The highway weaves and glitters and breathes Like a river with a pulse, and the sky Unfolds, generous with its light, and the trees Lean over the road, their leaves a blur of gold."

The use of imagery helps to create a sense of movement and energy, as the speaker describes the journey home.

Metaphor

The poem also makes use of metaphor, which helps to create a sense of depth and meaning. One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the idea of the holiday as a "rehearsal for death":

"We come to the feast as to a rehearsal for death, And we eat with our loved ones, and we sing, and we give thanks For the good things of this world, and we hope that we will be blessed With the grace to face the end with the same dignity and grace."

The metaphor of the holiday as a rehearsal for death is a powerful one, and underscores the idea of the passing of time and the need to cherish the moments that we have.

Repetition

The poem also makes use of repetition, which helps to reinforce the central themes of the poem. The repetition of the idea of home, for example, creates a sense of comfort and security:

"Home is where we are born, and where we die, And where we come to rest, and where we rise."

The repetition of this idea helps to create a sense of continuity and stability, even in the midst of change.

Interpretation

Overall, Thanksgiving is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of the holiday in a unique and powerful way. The poem is a celebration of family, tradition, and the passing of time, and it reminds us of the importance of gratitude and cherishing the moments that we have with the people we love.

The poem is also a meditation on the idea of home, and what it means to each of us. For the speaker, home is a place of comfort and security, a place where they can be themselves and be surrounded by the people they love. The repetition of the idea of home helps to create a sense of continuity and connection, even in the midst of change.

Finally, the poem is a reminder of the transitory nature of life, and the need to cherish the moments that we have. The metaphor of the holiday as a rehearsal for death is a powerful one, and underscores the importance of living life to the fullest, and being grateful for what we have.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of the holiday in a unique and powerful way. The poem explores themes of family, tradition, the passing of time, and the importance of gratitude, and it reminds us of the value of home and the need to cherish the moments that we have with the people we love. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition, the poem creates a sense of beauty and depth, and invites us to reflect on the meaning of the holiday, and on the importance of living life to the fullest.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Classic Poetry Thanksgiving by Peter Klappert: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagery

If you are looking for a poem that captures the essence of Thanksgiving, look no further than Peter Klappert's classic "Poetry Thanksgiving." This masterpiece of emotion and imagery is a celebration of the power of poetry to bring people together, to connect us to our past and to each other, and to help us find meaning and beauty in the world around us.

At its heart, "Poetry Thanksgiving" is a poem about the power of language to create community. Klappert begins by describing a group of people gathered together to share a meal and to read poetry. He paints a vivid picture of the scene, with its "long table set with plates and glasses" and its "candles flickering in the dark." But it is the poetry that is the real centerpiece of the gathering, the thing that brings everyone together and creates a sense of shared purpose and connection.

Klappert's language is rich and evocative, full of sensory detail and emotional resonance. He describes the poems that are read as "little boats" that carry the listeners "out to sea," and he speaks of the "warmth and light" that they bring to the gathering. He also captures the sense of intimacy and closeness that develops among the participants, as they share their thoughts and feelings about the poems and about their own lives.

But "Poetry Thanksgiving" is more than just a celebration of the power of language to create community. It is also a meditation on the meaning of Thanksgiving itself, and on the role that poetry can play in helping us to appreciate the beauty and richness of our lives. Klappert writes:

"We give thanks for the poems that have brought us here, for the words that have lifted us up and carried us through the dark and difficult times, for the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and for the love and connection that we share."

These lines capture the essence of what Thanksgiving is all about: gratitude for the blessings of life, and for the people and things that make it worth living. But they also suggest that poetry can help us to see and appreciate these blessings more fully, to find meaning and beauty in the world around us, and to connect with others in a deeper and more meaningful way.

In many ways, "Poetry Thanksgiving" is a poem about the power of art to transform our lives. Klappert suggests that poetry can help us to see the world in a new light, to find beauty and meaning in even the most difficult and challenging circumstances, and to connect with others in a way that is both profound and transformative. He writes:

"We give thanks for the poems that have opened our eyes, for the words that have shown us the way, for the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and for the love and connection that we share."

These lines suggest that poetry can help us to see beyond the surface of things, to find meaning and beauty in even the most mundane and ordinary aspects of life, and to connect with others in a way that is both profound and transformative.

In the end, "Poetry Thanksgiving" is a poem about the power of gratitude, and about the role that poetry can play in helping us to cultivate a sense of gratitude in our lives. Klappert writes:

"We give thanks for the poems that have taught us to be grateful, for the words that have shown us the way, for the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and for the love and connection that we share."

These lines suggest that gratitude is not just a feeling, but a way of seeing and experiencing the world. They suggest that poetry can help us to cultivate this sense of gratitude, to see the world in a new and more meaningful way, and to connect with others in a way that is both profound and transformative.

In conclusion, "Poetry Thanksgiving" is a masterpiece of emotion and imagery, a celebration of the power of language to create community, to help us find meaning and beauty in the world around us, and to cultivate a sense of gratitude in our lives. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of what Thanksgiving is all about, and that reminds us of the power of poetry to transform our lives and connect us to each other and to the world around us.

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