'At The Fishhouses' by Elizabeth Bishop
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Although it is a cold evening,
down by one of the fishhouses
an old man sits netting,
his net, in the gloaming almost invisible,
a dark purple-brown,
and his shuttle worn and polished.
The air smells so strong of codfish
it makes one's nose run and one's eyes water.
The five fishhouses have steeply peaked roofs
and narrow, cleated gangplanks slant up
to storerooms in the gables
for the wheelbarrows to be pushed up and down on.
All is silver: the heavy surface of the sea,
swelling slowly as if considering spilling over,
is opaque, but the silver of the benches,the lobster pots, and masts, scattered
among the wild jagged rocks,
is of an apparent translucence
like the small old buildings with an emerald moss
growing on their shoreward walls.
The big fish tubs are completely linedwith layers of beautiful herring scales
and the wheelbarrows are similarly plasteredwith creamy iridescent coats of mail,
with small iridescent flies crawling on them.
Up on the little slope behind the houses,
set in the sparse bright sprinkle of grass,
is an ancient wooden capstan,
cracked, with two long bleached handles
and some melancholy stains, like dried blood,
where the ironwork has rusted.
The old man accepts a Lucky Strike.
He was a friend of my grandfather.
We talk of the decline in the population
and of codfish and herring
while he waits for a herring boat to come in.
There are sequins on his vest and on his thumb.
He has scraped the scales, the principal beauty,
from unnumbered fish with that black old knife,
the blade of which is almost worn away.Down at the water's edge, at the place
where they haul up the boats, up the long ramp
descending into the water, thin silver
tree trunks are laid horizontally
across the gray stones, down and downat intervals of four or five feet.Cold dark deep and absolutely clear,
element bearable to no mortal,
to fish and to seals . . . One seal particularly
I have seen here evening after evening.
He was curious about me.He was interested in music;
like me a believer in total immersion,
so I used to sing him Baptist hymns.
I also sang "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
He stood up in the water and regarded mesteadily, moving his head a little.
Then he would disappear, then suddenly emerge
almost in the same spot, with a sort of shrug
as if it were against his better judgment.
Cold dark deep and absolutely clear,
the clear gray icy water . . . Back, behind us,
the dignified tall firs begin.
Bluish, associating with their shadows,
a million Christmas trees stand
waiting for Christmas.The water seems suspended
above the rounded gray and blue-gray stones.
I have seen it over and over, the same sea, the same,
slightly, indifferently swinging above the stones,
icily free above the stones,
above the stones and then the world.
If you should dip your hand in,
your wrist would ache immediately,
your bones would begin to ache and your hand would burn
as if the water were a transmutation of fire
that feeds on stones and burns with a dark gray flame.
If you tasted it, it would first taste bitter,
then briny, then surely burn your tongue.
It is like what we imagine knowledge to be:dark, salt, clear, moving, utterly free,
drawn from the cold hard mouth
of the world, derived from the rocky breasts
forever, flowing and drawn, and since
our knowledge is historical, flowing, and flown.
Editor 1 Interpretation
At The Fishhouses by Elizabeth Bishop
Introduction
At The Fishhouses is a remarkable poem by Elizabeth Bishop. It is a poem that evokes a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, yet it also celebrates life's beauty and the power of the human imagination. It is a poem that explores the complexity of our relationship with nature and the sea, as well as our individual desires and fears. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes, imagery, and symbolism, and explore the significance of At The Fishhouses in the context of Bishop's work.
Context
Elizabeth Bishop is known for her vivid and precise imagery, her use of language, and her ability to capture the essence of a moment or a feeling. She was born in 1911 in Massachusetts, and her early life was marked by tragedy and loss. Her father passed away when she was a baby, and her mother was institutionalized when she was five years old, leaving her in the care of her grandparents. Bishop had a difficult childhood and struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout her life.
At The Fishhouses was published in 1955 and is part of a collection of poems called Poems: North and South - A Cold Spring. The poem is set in Gloucester, Massachusetts, a town known for its fishing industry, and depicts Bishop's visit to the fishhouses. The poem is written in free verse, and its form and structure reflect the fluidity and unpredictability of the sea.
Themes
One of the central themes of At The Fishhouses is the relationship between humanity and nature. Bishop presents us with a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, a world where the sea is both a source of life and a force of destruction. The poem opens with the image of the sea as a "marble-heavy, a bag full of God," a description that conveys the awe-inspiring power of the sea. At the same time, the sea is also portrayed as a dangerous and unpredictable force, "tumbling billions of gallons of water and sand."
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of memory and nostalgia. Bishop uses the fishhouses as a metaphor for the past, a place that holds memories and emotions that are inaccessible to us now. The speaker of the poem reflects on her own memories of the fishhouses, memories that are tinged with sadness and loss. She describes the "rusty iron" and "weather-cracked wood" of the fishhouses, images that evoke a sense of decay and impermanence.
The poem also explores the idea of transformation and renewal. The speaker observes the fishermen at work, gutting and cleaning the fish, and she marvels at their ability to turn something dirty and smelly into something beautiful and nourishing. The act of cleaning the fish becomes a metaphor for the process of transformation, for the ability to turn something that is ugly or unpleasant into something that is valuable and life-giving.
Imagery and Symbolism
One of the most striking aspects of At The Fishhouses is its imagery. Bishop's use of language is precise and evocative, and she creates vivid images that stay with the reader long after the poem is over. The opening image of the sea as a "bag full of God" is particularly powerful, as it conveys the idea of the sea as a divine, almost mystical force. The image of the sea "tumbling billions of gallons of water and sand" is also memorable, as it conveys the sheer power and immensity of the sea.
Another significant image in the poem is that of the fishhouses themselves. The image of the "rusty iron" and "weather-cracked wood" suggests the passage of time and the inevitability of decay. The fishhouses are a symbol for the past, a place that holds memories and emotions that are inaccessible to us now.
The fishermen themselves are also symbolic, representing the human ability to transform and renew. The act of cleaning the fish becomes a metaphor for the process of transformation, for the ability to turn something that is ugly or unpleasant into something that is valuable and life-giving. The poem celebrates this process of transformation, suggesting that it is a powerful and life-affirming force.
Interpretation
At The Fishhouses is a poem that invites multiple interpretations. On one level, it can be read as a meditation on the sea and its power, and on the relationship between humanity and nature. The poem evokes a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and it suggests that our relationship with nature is both fragile and profound.
On another level, the poem can be read as a reflection on memory and nostalgia. The fishhouses become a metaphor for the past, a place where memories and emotions are stored. The speaker of the poem reflects on her own memories of the fishhouses, memories that are tinged with sadness and loss. The poem suggests that the past is both beautiful and painful, and that it is something that we must learn to let go of in order to move forward.
Finally, the poem can be read as a celebration of the human imagination and our ability to transform and renew. The fishermen are symbolic of this ability, as they turn something dirty and smelly into something beautiful and nourishing. The poem suggests that transformation is a powerful and life-affirming force, and that it is something that we should embrace and celebrate.
Conclusion
At The Fishhouses is a remarkable poem that explores themes of nature, memory, and transformation. Bishop's use of language is precise and evocative, and she creates vivid images that stay with the reader long after the poem is over. The poem invites multiple interpretations and can be read as a meditation on the sea, the past, and the human ability to transform and renew. At The Fishhouses is a testament to Bishop's skill as a poet, and it remains one of her most powerful and enduring works.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry At The Fishhouses: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her unique style and vivid imagery. Her poem, "Poetry At The Fishhouses," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life in a fishing village. The poem is a perfect example of Bishop's ability to create a sense of place and atmosphere through her use of language and imagery. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in "Poetry At The Fishhouses."
Themes
The central theme of "Poetry At The Fishhouses" is the contrast between the natural world and the human world. Bishop uses the setting of a fishing village to explore this theme. The poem describes the harsh and unforgiving environment of the sea, where the fishermen work tirelessly to make a living. The sea is portrayed as a powerful and unpredictable force that can both sustain and destroy life. In contrast, the human world is depicted as fragile and vulnerable. The fishermen are described as "small, hunchbacked figures" who are dwarfed by the vastness of the sea. The poem suggests that despite the efforts of humans to control their environment, they are ultimately at the mercy of nature.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of transformation. Bishop uses the image of the fish being transformed from a living creature into a commodity to explore this theme. The poem describes the process of gutting and cleaning the fish, which transforms them from something alive and wild into something that can be bought and sold. This transformation is also reflected in the language of the poem, which shifts from the descriptive and lyrical to the more practical and utilitarian.
Structure
"Poetry At The Fishhouses" is a free-verse poem that is divided into six stanzas of varying lengths. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker observing the scene from a distance. The structure of the poem reflects the themes of transformation and contrast. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the contrast between the natural world and the human world. The second stanza describes the fishermen at work, while the third stanza focuses on the sea and its power. The fourth stanza describes the transformation of the fish, while the fifth stanza reflects on the fragility of human life. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of the sea and the contrast between the natural and human worlds.
Literary Devices
Bishop uses a variety of literary devices to create the vivid imagery and atmosphere of "Poetry At The Fishhouses." One of the most striking devices is her use of metaphor and simile. For example, she describes the sea as "a dark, / unbroken, cold / voice of the sea" and compares the fishermen to "small, hunchbacked figures / walking on / stones at the water's edge." These metaphors and similes create a sense of the sea's power and the fishermen's vulnerability.
Bishop also uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. For example, she repeats the phrase "cold dark deep and absolutely clear" throughout the poem, creating a sense of the sea's vastness and depth. She also uses alliteration to create a sense of the harshness and brutality of the fishing industry. For example, she describes the "gutting knives" and the "glistening entrails" of the fish.
Conclusion
"Poetry At The Fishhouses" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of life in a fishing village. Bishop's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and atmospheric portrait of the sea, the fishermen, and the transformation of the fish. The poem explores themes of contrast, transformation, and the fragility of human life. Through her use of metaphor, simile, repetition, and alliteration, Bishop creates a sense of rhythm and musicality that adds to the poem's power and beauty. "Poetry At The Fishhouses" is a testament to Bishop's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the natural world.
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