'At The Door' by David Wagoner
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
All actors look for them-the defining moments
When what a character does is what he is.
The script may say, He goes to the door
And exits or She goes out the door stage left.But you see your fingers touching the doorknob,
Closing around it, turning it
As if by themselves. The latch slides
Out of the strike-plate, the door swings on its hinges,
And you're about to take that step
Over the threshold into a different light.For the audience, you may simply be
Disappearing from the scene, yet in those few seconds
You can reach for the knob as the last object on earth
You wanted to touch. Or you can take it
Warmly like the hand your father offered
Once in forgiveness and afterward
Kept to himself.Or you can stand there briefly, as bewildered
As by the door of a walk-in time-lock safe,
Stand there and stare
At the whole concept of shutness, like a rat
Whose maze has been rebaffled overnight,
Stand still and quiver, unable to turn
Around or go left or right.Or you can grasp it with a sly, soundless discretion,
Open it inch by inch, testing each fraction
Of torque on the spindles, on tiptoe
Slip yourself through the upright slot
And press the lock-stile silently
Back into its frame.Or you can use your shoulder
Or the hard heel of your shoe
And a leg-thrust to break it open.Or you can approach the door as if accustomed
To having all barriers open by themselves.
You can wrench aside
This unauthorized interruption of your progress
And then leave it ajar
For others to do with as they may see fit.Or you can stand at ease
And give the impression you can see through
This door or any door and have no need
To take your physical self to the other side.Or you can turn the knob as if at last
Nothing could please you more, your body language
Filled with expectations of joy at where you're going,
Holding yourself momentarily in the posture
Of an awestruck pilgrim at the gate-though you know
You'll only be stepping out against the scrim
Or a wobbly flat daubed with a landscape,
A scribble of leaves, a hint of flowers,
The bare suggestion of a garden.
Editor 1 Interpretation
At The Door: A Masterpiece of Poetry by David Wagoner
As a lover of poetry, I am always fascinated by the depth and beauty of language that poets use to express their thoughts and emotions. David Wagoner's "At The Door" is a classic example of how poetry can capture the essence of human experience and evoke powerful emotions in the reader. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the various themes and literary devices used in this masterpiece and explore the significance of each.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a moment to appreciate the poem in its entirety:
At The Door
The door itself makes no promises. It is only a door.
But the light on the other side whispers your name.
Stepping through, you might not be the same again.
You might have found a place you belong.
Or you might have given up.
Either way, the door is still there.
It makes no promises, but you do.
You promise to keep going.
You promise to come back.
You promise to tell us what you found.
You promise the light will never go out.
Analysis
The Door as a Metaphor
The first thing that strikes me about this poem is the imagery of the door. The door is a powerful metaphor for the choices we make in life. The poem opens with the lines "The door itself/makes no promises./It is only a door." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the idea that the door is a blank canvas on which we paint our own destiny. The door represents the unknown, the possibilities that await us on the other side.
The Light as a Symbol
The light on the other side of the door is another powerful symbol in this poem. The light represents hope, the promise of something better. It whispers the name of the person standing at the door, drawing them in with the allure of what could be. The line "Stepping through,/you might not be the same again." emphasizes the transformative power of the light. It suggests that the person who steps through the door will be changed in some way, that they will have a new perspective on life.
The Choice
The poem presents the reader with a choice. The person at the door must decide whether to step through or not. This choice is significant because it represents the choices we make in life. Will we take a chance on the unknown, or will we stay in our comfort zone? The line "Either way,/the door is still there." reminds us that the door will always be there, waiting for us to make a choice.
The Promises
The promises made in the poem are a reminder that we are not alone in our journey. We promise to keep going, to come back, and to tell others what we have found. These promises suggest accountability and a sense of community. We are not just taking this journey for ourselves, but for the people around us. The promise that "the light/will never go out" is a message of hope for those who are struggling. It is a reminder that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always a light to guide us.
The Structure
The structure of the poem is also significant. The short lines and stanzas give the poem a sense of urgency, as if the person at the door must make a decision quickly. The repetition of the line "It makes no promises," emphasizes the idea that the door is neutral, and that the only promises made are the ones we make ourselves. The final stanza is longer than the others, giving the reader a sense of closure and resolution.
Interpretation
"At The Door" is a poem about choice, hope, and community. It reminds us that we are not alone in our journey through life, and that we have the power to make our own destiny. The door is a symbol for the choices we make, and the light is a symbol for hope. The promises made in the poem suggest accountability and a sense of community.
This poem is particularly relevant in our current times, where many people are struggling to find hope in the midst of uncertain times. It reminds us that there is always a light to guide us, even in the darkest of times. It also reminds us that we have a responsibility to share our experiences with others, to help them find their own light.
Conclusion
David Wagoner's "At The Door" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human experience. It is a powerful reminder that we have the power to make our own destiny and that there is always a light to guide us. The door and the light are powerful symbols that evoke emotions in the reader, and the promises made in the poem remind us of our responsibility to ourselves and our communities. This poem is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and uplift readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry At The Door: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
David Wagoner's "Poetry At The Door" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and the power of words. This poem is a perfect example of how poetry can be used to express complex ideas and emotions in a simple and elegant way. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker hearing a knock at the door. As he opens the door, he is greeted by a stranger who introduces himself as poetry. The stranger asks to come in and the speaker invites him in. This simple act of opening the door to a stranger sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a metaphor for the act of opening oneself up to new experiences and ideas.
The stranger, who is poetry, is described as having "a face like a question." This description is significant because it suggests that poetry is not a fixed entity but rather a fluid and ever-changing concept. Poetry is not something that can be easily defined or understood. It is something that is constantly evolving and challenging our perceptions.
As the stranger enters the speaker's home, he begins to transform the space around him. The room becomes filled with "a thousand eyes" and the air is filled with "a thousand voices." This imagery is powerful because it suggests that poetry has the ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary. It can take something ordinary and make it extraordinary by giving it new meaning and significance.
The stranger then begins to speak, and his words are described as "a river of light." This description is significant because it suggests that poetry has the power to illuminate and enlighten. It can bring clarity to our thoughts and emotions and help us to see things in a new light.
The stranger then asks the speaker to join him on a journey. This journey is described as a "journey of the mind." This journey is significant because it suggests that poetry has the ability to take us on a journey of self-discovery. It can help us to explore our innermost thoughts and emotions and to understand ourselves better.
As the speaker and the stranger journey together, they encounter a variety of landscapes and experiences. They see "mountains of doubt" and "rivers of fear." They also see "fields of hope" and "forests of joy." This imagery is significant because it suggests that poetry can help us to navigate the ups and downs of life. It can help us to find hope in times of despair and joy in times of sorrow.
As the journey comes to an end, the stranger disappears, leaving the speaker alone. The speaker is left with a sense of longing and a desire to continue the journey. This ending is significant because it suggests that poetry is not something that can be easily grasped or understood. It is something that is constantly evolving and challenging us to explore new ideas and experiences.
In terms of language, the poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors. The use of metaphors is particularly effective because it allows the reader to see poetry as something that is not fixed or static but rather something that is constantly changing and evolving. The use of vivid imagery also helps to bring the poem to life and to make it more relatable to the reader.
In terms of themes, the poem explores the power of poetry to transform and enlighten. It also explores the idea of self-discovery and the journey of the mind. These themes are significant because they speak to the power of poetry to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.
In conclusion, "Poetry At The Door" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and the power of words. Through its vivid imagery and metaphors, the poem explores the themes of self-discovery and the power of poetry to transform and enlighten. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to help us navigate the ups and downs of life and to find meaning and significance in the world around us.
Editor Recommended Sites
Ethereum Exchange: Ethereum based layer-2 network protocols for Exchanges. Decentralized exchanges supporting ETHEvent Trigger: Everything related to lambda cloud functions, trigger cloud event handlers, cloud event callbacks, database cdc streaming, cloud event rules engines
Tactical Roleplaying Games: Find more tactical roleplaying games like final fantasy tactics, wakfu, ffbe wotv
JavaFX App: JavaFX for mobile Development
Cloud Templates - AWS / GCP terraform and CDK templates, stacks: Learn about Cloud Templates for best practice deployment using terraform cloud and cdk providers
Recommended Similar Analysis
Scholar -Gipsy, The by Matthew Arnold analysisNigger by Carl Sandburg analysis
On Looking Into The Eyes Of A Demon Lover by Sylvia Plath analysis
Morning (Love Sonnet XXVII) by Pablo Neruda analysis
The White Birds by William Butler Yeats analysis
The Fisherman by William Butler Yeats analysis
Will there really be a "Morning"? by Emily Dickinson analysis
Woman's Constancy by John Donne analysis
How Doth the Little Crocodile by Lewis Carroll analysis
Apparition , The by John Donne analysis