'Bored' by Margaret Atwood

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All those times I was bored
out of my mind. Holding the log
while he sawed it. Holding
the string while he measured, boards,
distances between things, or pounded
stakes into the ground for rows and rows
of lettuces and beets, which I then (bored)
weeded. Or sat in the back
of the car, or sat still in boats,
sat, sat, while at the prow, stern, wheel
he drove, steered, paddled. It
wasn't even boredom, it was looking,
looking hard and up close at the small
details. Myopia. The worn gunwales,
the intricate twill of the seat
cover. The acid crumbs of loam, the granular
pink rock, its igneous veins, the sea-fans
of dry moss, the blackish and then the graying
bristles on the back of his neck.
Sometimes he would whistle, sometimes
I would. The boring rhythm of doing
things over and over, carrying
the wood, drying
the dishes. Such minutiae. It's what
the animals spend most of their time at,
ferrying the sand, grain by grain, from their tunnels,
shuffling the leaves in their burrows. He pointed
such things out, and I would look
at the whorled texture of his square finger, earth under
the nail. Why do I remember it as sunnier
all the time then, although it more often
rained, and more birdsong?
I could hardly wait to get
the hell out of there to
anywhere else. Perhaps though
boredom is happier. It is for dogs or
groundhogs. Now I wouldn't be bored.
Now I would know too much.
Now I would know.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Bored: An Intricate Exploration of the Human Psyche by Margaret Atwood

Have you ever felt bored? That feeling of restlessness, of ennui that creeps up on you when you have nothing to do and nowhere to go? It's a feeling that's both universal and deeply personal, a state of mind that Margaret Atwood explores in her poem, "Poetry, Bored."

At first glance, the poem seems simple enough. It's a brief, eight-line meditation on the nature of poetry, and its relationship to the human condition. But as you delve deeper, you realize that there's much more going on here than meets the eye. Through a series of intricate metaphors and vivid images, Atwood paints a portrait of the human psyche that's both haunting and beautiful.

Let's take a closer look at the poem, and see what we can uncover.

The Poem

The poem is the place where
we are ourselves,
no matter how socially
conditioned we may be.
It's a sanctuary for the
individual voice
the one nobody hears
until it's roaring.

The first thing that strikes you about "Poetry, Bored" is its structure. Atwood has chosen to write in free verse, with no formal rhyme or meter to constrain her. This gives the poem an air of spontaneity, as if it were written on the spur of the moment, in a burst of inspiration.

But as you read through the lines, you begin to see the careful crafting beneath the surface. Atwood has chosen her words with great care, and each line is packed with meaning and symbolism.

The poem begins with a bold assertion: that poetry is the place where we are ourselves. This is a profound statement, and one that's worth unpacking.

What does it mean to be ourselves? Atwood seems to be suggesting that we all have a core, essential self that lies beneath the layers of social conditioning that we accumulate over time. This self is the one that we reveal when we're alone, or with people we trust completely. It's the self that's most vulnerable, and most authentic.

And where do we reveal this self? In the poem, according to Atwood. Here, the individual voice can find sanctuary, and speak without fear of judgment or ridicule. It's a space where we can be truly ourselves, without any of the masks or personas that we wear in our daily lives.

But what does this have to do with boredom? Atwood seems to be implying that boredom is the result of not being able to access this essential self. When we're bored, we're disconnected from our true selves, and we're left with a sense of emptiness and restlessness.

The second half of the poem builds on this idea, and takes it to a new level.

Atwood writes that the individual voice is "the one nobody hears until it's roaring." This is a powerful image, and one that's full of metaphorical resonance.

The idea of a voice that's roaring suggests a kind of primal, animalistic energy. It's the voice that's been suppressed for too long, that's been waiting for an opportunity to break free. And when it finally does, it's a force to be reckoned with.

But what's interesting here is the implication that this voice is only heard when it's roaring. In other words, it's only when we're pushed to our limits, when we're so bored that we can't stand it anymore, that we're able to access this essential self.

This is a fascinating idea, and one that's worth pondering. Are we only able to truly be ourselves when we're pushed to the brink? Is boredom a necessary precondition for self-discovery?

Interpretation

So what can we take away from "Poetry, Bored"? What insights can we glean from this intricate exploration of the human psyche?

One way to approach the poem is to see it as a commentary on the state of modern society. Atwood seems to be suggesting that we've become so conditioned by social norms and expectations that we've lost touch with our essential selves. We're so busy trying to fit in, to be what other people want us to be, that we've forgotten who we really are.

And what's the result of this? Boredom, of course. When we're not able to be ourselves, we're left with a sense of emptiness and restlessness. We feel like something is missing, but we don't know what it is.

But there's another way to interpret the poem, and that's as a celebration of the power of poetry. Atwood seems to be suggesting that poetry has the ability to connect us with our essential selves, to give voice to the parts of us that are most vulnerable and authentic.

In this sense, the poem can be seen as a kind of call to action. Atwood is urging us to turn to poetry, to use it as a tool for self-discovery and self-expression. She's inviting us to access our essential selves, to roar until our voices are heard.

Conclusion

"Poetry, Bored" is a short but powerful poem, one that's full of meaning and symbolism. Through a series of intricate metaphors and vivid images, Margaret Atwood explores the nature of poetry, and its relationship to the human condition.

At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the importance of being true to ourselves. Atwood seems to be suggesting that we all have an essential self that lies beneath the layers of social conditioning that we accumulate over time. And when we're not able to access this self, we're left with a sense of emptiness and restlessness.

But there's hope, too. Atwood is urging us to turn to poetry, to use it as a tool for self-discovery and self-expression. She's reminding us that we all have a voice, and that we should use it to roar until we're heard.

In this sense, "Poetry, Bored" is not just a poem, but a manifesto. It's a call to action, a reminder that we all have the power to connect with our essential selves, and to find meaning in a world that can often seem empty and meaningless.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Bored: An Analysis of Margaret Atwood's Classic

Margaret Atwood's "Poetry Bored" is a classic poem that explores the theme of boredom and its effects on creativity. The poem is a satirical take on the idea that poetry is boring and uninteresting. Atwood uses humor and irony to challenge this notion and to show that poetry can be exciting and engaging.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and message. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem and introduces the theme of boredom. Atwood begins by saying that "you think you're bored" and goes on to describe the various activities that people do when they are bored. She lists things like watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the internet. Atwood is suggesting that these activities are not fulfilling and that people are looking for something more meaningful.

In the second stanza, Atwood turns her attention to poetry. She begins by saying that "you think poetry is boring" and goes on to describe the various types of poetry that people might encounter. She mentions sonnets, haikus, and free verse, among others. Atwood is suggesting that there is a wide variety of poetry available and that people should not dismiss it as boring without giving it a chance.

The third stanza is where Atwood really drives home her message. She says that "you think poetry is boring / because you're bored with yourself." Atwood is suggesting that people who are bored with their lives are also bored with poetry. She goes on to say that "poetry is not a mirror / but an axe" and that it can be used to break through the boredom and monotony of everyday life. Atwood is suggesting that poetry can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

One of the most interesting aspects of "Poetry Bored" is the way that Atwood uses humor and irony to make her point. She is poking fun at the idea that poetry is boring, but at the same time, she is also challenging this notion. By using humor, Atwood is able to engage the reader and make them think about the message behind the poem.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way that Atwood uses language. She is a master of wordplay and uses puns and double meanings to great effect. For example, when she says that "poetry is not a mirror / but an axe," she is using the word "axe" to suggest that poetry can be used to cut through the boredom and monotony of everyday life. At the same time, she is also using the word "axe" to suggest that poetry can be a destructive force that can challenge our preconceptions and beliefs.

Overall, "Poetry Bored" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that challenges our assumptions about poetry and creativity. Atwood is suggesting that poetry can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth, and that we should not dismiss it as boring or uninteresting. By using humor and irony, Atwood is able to engage the reader and make them think about the message behind the poem. If you are looking for a poem that will challenge your assumptions and make you think, "Poetry Bored" is definitely worth a read.

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