'Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work' by David Wagoner
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He would leave early and walk slowly
As if balancing books
On the way to school, already expecting
To be tardy once again and heavy
With numbers, the unfashionably rounded
Toes of his shoes invisible beyond
The slope of his corporation. He would pause
At his favorite fundamentally sound
Park bench, which had been the birthplace
Of paeans and ruminations on other mornings,
And would turn his back to it, having gauged the distance
Between his knees and the edge of the hardwood
Almost invariably unoccupied
At this enlightened hour by the bums of nighttime
(For whom the owlish eye of the moon
Had been closed by daylight), and would give himself wholly over
Backwards and trustingly downwards
And be well seated there. He would remove
From his sinister jacket pocket a postcard
And touch it and retouch it with the point
Of the fountain he produced at his fingertips
And fill it with his never-before-uttered
Runes and obbligatos and pellucidly cryptic
Duets from private pageants, from broken ends
Of fandangos with the amoeba
Editor 1 Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work
Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work, a poem by David Wagoner, is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of the human struggle to find meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. This 27-line poem is a profound reflection on the nature of existence and the search for purpose in a world that is often stark and unforgiving.
The Poem
The poem begins with the speaker describing a man, presumably Wallace Stevens, walking to work in the early morning. The speaker notes the beauty of the morning light and the way it falls on the buildings and streets, but also acknowledges the darkness that lies beneath the surface. The man is described as being lost in thought, perhaps pondering the same questions that the speaker is struggling with.
As the man continues on his way, the speaker imagines him disappearing into the darkness, swallowed up by the city and its endless cycle of work and routine. But even in the midst of this darkness, the speaker finds hope in the fact that the man is still searching for something, still seeking meaning and purpose in his life.
The poem ends with a powerful image of the man disappearing into the light, as if he has found what he was looking for. The final lines leave the reader with a sense of awe and wonder at the mystery of existence and the endless quest for meaning that defines the human experience.
Interpretation
At its core, Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work is a meditation on the search for meaning in a world that often seems devoid of it. The poem captures the sense of ennui and despair that can afflict even the most successful and accomplished individuals, as they struggle to find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their lives.
The man in the poem, presumably Wallace Stevens, is a symbol of the everyman, the average person who finds themselves caught up in the daily grind of work and routine. He is searching for something, but he doesn't quite know what it is. He is lost in thought, perhaps pondering the same questions that plague the speaker.
The darkness that lies beneath the surface of the morning light is a metaphor for the emptiness and despair that can lurk beneath even the most beautiful and seemingly perfect exterior. The city, with its endless cycle of work and routine, represents the forces that can weigh us down and make us feel as if we are just cogs in a machine.
But even in the face of this darkness, the speaker finds hope. The fact that the man is still searching for something, still seeking meaning and purpose in his life, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a reminder that even when things seem bleak and hopeless, there is always the possibility of finding meaning and purpose in our lives.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The image of the man disappearing into the light, as if he has found what he was looking for, is a powerful metaphor for the search for meaning and purpose in our lives. It suggests that even though the journey may be long and difficult, there is always the possibility of finding what we are looking for if we keep searching.
Conclusion
Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work is a profound and moving poem that captures the essence of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems devoid of it. It is a reminder that even in the face of darkness and despair, there is always the possibility of finding hope and meaning in our lives.
David Wagoner's use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, and his ability to capture the complexity of the human experience is truly remarkable. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to move and inspire us, and to the enduring importance of the search for meaning and purpose in our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
David Wagoner's "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work" is a poem that captures the essence of modern poetry. The poem is a tribute to Wallace Stevens, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. It is a beautiful and complex piece of writing that explores the themes of creativity, imagination, and the power of language.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which is a reflection on a different aspect of Stevens' life and work. The first stanza is a description of Stevens' daily routine, as he walks to work. The second stanza is a meditation on the power of language and the creative process. The third stanza is a tribute to Stevens' legacy and the impact that his work has had on modern poetry.
The first stanza of the poem is a vivid description of Stevens' daily routine. Wagoner describes Stevens as "a man of routine" who walks to work every day, "past the same houses, the same trees, / the same old dog barking at the same old fence." This repetition creates a sense of familiarity and comfort, but it also suggests a certain monotony and routine. Stevens' daily walk to work becomes a metaphor for the routine of everyday life, and the poem suggests that it is through this routine that Stevens finds inspiration for his poetry.
The second stanza of the poem is a meditation on the power of language and the creative process. Wagoner writes, "Words are the only things that can / make the dead alive, the absent present, / the past present, the future present." This is a powerful statement about the power of language to transcend time and space. Wagoner suggests that it is through language that we are able to create new worlds and new realities, and that it is through the creative process that we are able to bring these worlds to life.
The third stanza of the poem is a tribute to Stevens' legacy and the impact that his work has had on modern poetry. Wagoner writes, "He left us his words, his visions, / his way of seeing the world." This is a beautiful tribute to Stevens, and it suggests that his work will continue to inspire and influence future generations of poets.
Overall, "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a beautiful and complex piece of writing that explores the themes of creativity, imagination, and the power of language. The poem is a tribute to Wallace Stevens, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, and it is a testament to the enduring power of his work.
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