'Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning' by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

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There's a breathless hush on the freeway tonight
Beyond the ledges of concrete
restaurants fall into dreams
with candlelight couples
Lost Alexandria still burns
in a billion lightbulbs
Lives cross lives
idling at stoplights
Beyond the cloverleaf turnoffs
'Souls eat souls in the general emptiness'
A piano concerto comes out a kitchen window
A yogi speaks at Ojai
'It's all taking pace in one mind'
On the lawn among the trees
lovers are listening
for the master to tell them they are one
with the universe
Eyes smell flowers and become them
There's a deathless hush
on the freeway tonight
as a Pacific tidal wave a mile high
sweeps in
Los Angeles breathes its last gas
and sinks into the sea like the Titanic all lights lit
Nine minutes later Willa Cather's Nebraska
sinks with it
The sea comes over in Utah
Mormon tabernacles washed away like barnacles
Coyotes are confounded & swim nowhere
An orchestra onstage in Omaha
keeps on playing Handel's Water Music
Horns fill with water
ans bass players float away on their instruments
clutching them like lovers horizontal
Chicago's Loop becomes a rollercoaster
Skyscrapers filled like water glasses
Great Lakes mixed with Buddhist brine
Great Books watered down in Evanston
Milwaukee beer topped with sea foam
Beau Fleuve of Buffalo suddenly become salt
Manhatten Island swept clean in sixteen seconds
buried masts of Amsterdam arise
as the great wave sweeps on Eastward
to wash away over-age Camembert Europe
manhatta steaming in sea-vines
the washed land awakes again to wilderness
the only sound a vast thrumming of crickets
a cry of seabirds high over
in empty eternity
as the Hudson retakes its thickets
and Indians reclaim their canoes

Editor 1 Interpretation

Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

“Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning” is a classic poem written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, an American poet, painter, and social activist. Published in 1977, the poem is a part of Ferlinghetti’s collection of poems titled “Landscapes of Living and Dying”. The poem is a reflection of Ferlinghetti's vision for a better world, a world that is free of violence, war, and oppression. The poem is a call to action for people to come together and create a new beginning, a world that is built on love, compassion, and understanding.

The Structure

The poem is composed of five stanzas, each with varying numbers of lines. The first and last stanzas have eight lines each, while the second and fourth stanzas have ten lines each. The third stanza has twelve lines. The poem follows an irregular rhyme scheme, with some lines rhyming while others do not.

The Content

The poem is a reflection of Ferlinghetti's desire for a new beginning, a world where people are not divided by race, religion, or political beliefs. The poem speaks of the need for people to come together and create a world that is built on love, compassion, and understanding. The opening line of the poem, “There’s a breathless hush on the freeway tonight”, sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The line suggests that something big is about to happen, that there is a sense of anticipation in the air.

The second stanza of the poem speaks of the need for people to come together and create a new world. The lines “We’re all in this alone, life is a journey to the unknown” speak of the loneliness that people feel, despite living in a world that is interconnected. Ferlinghetti suggests that people need to come together and support one another, that the only way to create a new beginning is through collective action.

The third stanza of the poem is the longest, and it speaks of the need for people to break free from the chains of oppression. The lines “We’re the heirs of the glimmering world” suggest that people are capable of creating something beautiful, that they have the potential to create a world that is free of violence and oppression. The lines “We’ll build again the splendor of the human spirit” suggest that people have the power to rebuild and create a better world, that they can overcome any obstacle that comes their way.

The fourth stanza of the poem speaks of the need for people to show compassion towards one another. The lines “We’re all islands shouting lies to each other” suggest that people often misunderstand one another, that they are quick to judge and slow to listen. Ferlinghetti suggests that people need to show empathy towards one another, that they need to listen to each other's stories and understand their struggles.

The final stanza of the poem speaks of the hope for a new beginning. The lines “We’ll meet again, we’ll part once more” suggest that people will continue to face challenges, but that they will always come together again. The final lines of the poem “We’ll meet in the stars if there’s any stars left” suggest that even if the world is destroyed, people will find a way to come together and create a new beginning.

The Interpretation

“Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning” is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition. Ferlinghetti's vision for a better world is one that is shared by many people around the world. The poem speaks of the need for people to come together and create a world that is free of violence and oppression. The poem is a call to action for people to look beyond their differences and work towards a common goal.

The poem also speaks of the power of the human spirit. Ferlinghetti suggests that people have the ability to overcome any obstacle that comes their way, that they can create something beautiful out of the chaos that surrounds them. The lines “We’ll build again the splendor of the human spirit” speak to the resilience of the human spirit, that even in the face of adversity, people can find a way to come together and create a better world.

The poem is also a reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion. Ferlinghetti suggests that people need to listen to each other's stories and understand their struggles. The lines “We’re all islands shouting lies to each other” speak to the need for people to show empathy towards one another, that they need to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal.

The Conclusion

In conclusion, “Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning” is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition. Ferlinghetti's vision for a better world is one that is shared by many people around the world. The poem speaks of the need for people to come together and create a world that is free of violence and oppression. The poem is a call to action for people to look beyond their differences and work towards a common goal. It is a reminder of the power of the human spirit, and the importance of empathy and compassion. So, let's all come together and work towards creating a new beginning, a world that is built on love, compassion, and understanding.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning: A Poetic Journey of Hope and Renewal

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of hope and renewal in the face of adversity. Written in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement, the poem speaks to the human desire for a better world, a world free from the shackles of oppression and injustice.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first stanza is a reflection on the past, a lament for the lost innocence of childhood and the dreams that were once held dear. The second stanza is a call to action, a rallying cry for the oppressed to rise up and fight for their rights. The third and final stanza is a vision of the future, a dream of a world where peace and justice reign supreme.

The first stanza begins with the lines "There must be a new beginning / A wild sunrise over the mountains / Something that has never been before." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of urgency and a desire for change. The speaker is calling for a new beginning, a fresh start that will allow humanity to move beyond the mistakes of the past and create a better future.

The second stanza is perhaps the most powerful and emotionally charged section of the poem. It begins with the lines "We must rise up and reclaim our lives / From the corporations and the politicians / Who have stolen our dreams." Here, the speaker is calling for a revolution, a complete overthrow of the existing power structures that have led to the oppression and exploitation of the masses.

The lines "We must take to the streets / And demand our rights / We must fight for what we believe in / And never give up the fight" are a call to action, urging the oppressed to take matters into their own hands and fight for their rights. The use of the word "we" throughout this stanza creates a sense of solidarity and unity, emphasizing the importance of collective action in the struggle for justice.

The third and final stanza is a vision of the future, a dream of a world where peace and justice reign supreme. The lines "We will build a new world / A world of love and compassion / Where all are equal / And no one is left behind" are a powerful statement of hope and optimism. The speaker is envisioning a world where the values of love and compassion are at the forefront, where equality is the norm and no one is left behind.

The final lines of the poem, "We will create a new beginning / A wild sunrise over the mountains / Something that has never been before" bring the poem full circle, returning to the theme of renewal and hope that was established in the first stanza. The speaker is expressing a belief in the power of humanity to create a better world, to rise above the mistakes of the past and forge a new path forward.

In terms of literary devices, Ferlinghetti employs a number of techniques to create a sense of urgency and emotional resonance in the poem. The use of repetition, particularly in the second stanza, creates a sense of momentum and urgency, driving home the message of the poem. The use of imagery, particularly in the first and third stanzas, creates a vivid and evocative picture of the world that the speaker is envisioning.

Overall, "Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning" is a powerful and inspiring poem that speaks to the human desire for a better world. Ferlinghetti's use of language and imagery creates a sense of urgency and emotional resonance that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. In a world that often seems dark and hopeless, this poem is a reminder that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

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