'The Coin Behind Your Ear' by Connie Wanek
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Before you knew you owned it
it was gone, stolen, and you were a fool.
How you never felt it is the wonder,
heavy and thick,
lodged deep in your hair like a burr.
You still see the smile of the magician
as he turned the coin in his long fingers,
which had so disturbed your ear
with their caress. You watched him
lift it into the light, bright as frost,
and slip it into his maze of pockets.
You felt vainly behind your ear
but there was no second coin,
nothing to tempt him back.
No one cared to know why he did it,
only how.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Magic of Connie Wanek's "The Coin Behind Your Ear"
Are you familiar with the term "magical realism"? It's a literary genre that blends the real world with fantastical elements, making the impossible seem possible. Well, Connie Wanek's poem "The Coin Behind Your Ear" is a perfect example of magical realism in poetry. It takes a simple, everyday situation and turns it into a magical moment that leaves the reader feeling wonder and awe. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, symbols, and language used in the poem and how they contribute to its magical realism.
Analysis of the Poem
The Setting
The poem's setting is a common one – a magician performing a trick on a child. At first glance, it seems like a mundane scene, but as the poem progresses, we realize that there's more to it than meets the eye. The magician's performance takes on a mystical quality as he pulls a coin out from behind the child's ear. The magic of the trick is magnified by the fact that it's performed in front of a group of people, and yet, no one knows how it's done.
The Trick
The poem's central focus is on the magician's trick – the coin behind the child's ear. The coin itself is a symbol of hidden treasure, and the fact that it's found behind the child's ear adds to its mysteriousness. The magician's ability to produce the coin out of thin air adds to the poem's magical realism. The reader is left wondering how the magician was able to perform such a trick – did he use sleight of hand, or was it real magic?
The Child
The child is a crucial character in this poem. The fact that the magician performs the trick on a child adds to its innocence and wonder. Children are known for their unbridled imagination and willingness to believe in the impossible, making them the perfect subjects for magical realism. The child's reaction to the trick – "I'm rich!" – is a testament to the power of the magician's performance. The child's innocence and wonder are what make the trick so magical.
Themes in the Poem
Perception vs Reality
The theme of perception vs reality is prevalent in this poem. At first glance, the magician's trick appears to be a simple sleight of hand. However, as the poem progresses, the reader realizes that there's more to it than meets the eye. The trick is a symbol of how things are not always what they seem. The coin behind the child's ear is a metaphor for hidden treasure, and the magician's ability to produce it out of thin air is a symbol of how we often overlook the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Innocence and Wonder
The child's innocence and wonder are integral to the poem's theme. The fact that the magician performs the trick on a child adds to its innocence and wonder. The child's reaction to the trick – "I'm rich!" – is a testament to how innocence and wonder can make the impossible seem possible. The poem is a reminder to embrace our childlike wonder and see the magic in the world around us.
Literary Techniques Used in the Poem
Imagery
Imagery is used throughout the poem to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The line "the flash of silver" evokes an image of a shiny coin. The phrase "a slight of hand" creates an image of the magician's hands moving quickly and deftly. The use of imagery adds to the poem's magical realism by making the trick seem more real.
Syntax
The syntax of the poem is important in creating its rhythmic structure. The poem is composed of four stanzas, each with three lines. The first two lines of each stanza are written in iambic tetrameter, while the third line is written in iambic trimeter. The use of a consistent rhythmic structure adds to the poem's magical quality by creating a sense of repetition and ritual.
Allusion
The phrase "I'm rich!" is an allusion to the myth of King Midas. King Midas was granted the ability to turn everything he touched into gold, but the gift ultimately proved to be a curse. The allusion adds to the poem's magical realism by connecting the child's experience with a well-known myth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Connie Wanek's "The Coin Behind Your Ear" is a beautiful example of magical realism in poetry. The poem takes a simple, everyday situation and turns it into a mystical moment that leaves the reader feeling wonder and awe. The themes of perception vs reality and innocence and wonder are integral to the poem's meaning, and the use of literary techniques such as imagery, syntax, and allusion add to its magical quality. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to make the impossible seem possible and to remind us to see the magic in the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Coin Behind Your Ear: A Poem That Unveils the Magic of Everyday Life
Have you ever been to a magic show? The kind where the magician pulls a coin out from behind your ear? It's a classic trick that never fails to amaze. But have you ever stopped to think about the deeper meaning behind it? That's exactly what Connie Wanek does in her poem, "The Coin Behind Your Ear."
At first glance, the poem seems to be about the magic trick itself. Wanek describes the coin as "a silver disc, a button of light," and marvels at how it appears "as if from nowhere." But as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that there's more to it than that. The coin is a symbol for something much larger: the magic of everyday life.
Wanek begins by describing the coin as "a gift from the gods," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. She's not just talking about a simple coin trick; she's talking about something mystical and otherworldly. The fact that the coin comes from "behind your ear" only adds to this sense of wonder. It's as if the coin has been hiding there all along, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.
But what is the coin really? Wanek suggests that it's a symbol for the small miracles that happen in our lives every day. She writes, "It's the sun that rises every morning / and sets each night, / the moon that waxes and wanes." These are things that we take for granted, but they're no less miraculous for it. The fact that the sun rises every day is a testament to the power of the universe, and the fact that we get to witness it is a gift.
Wanek goes on to describe the coin as "a reminder of the magic / that's always there." This is perhaps the most important line in the poem. It's easy to get caught up in the mundane details of life and forget about the wonder that surrounds us. But the coin is a reminder that there's magic in everything, if only we take the time to look for it.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. Wanek writes, "It's the coin behind your ear, / the one you didn't know was there, / the one you didn't earn or deserve, / the one that makes you believe." This is where the poem really comes together. The coin isn't just a symbol for the magic of everyday life; it's a symbol for grace. It's a reminder that sometimes, good things happen to us for no reason at all. We don't earn or deserve them, but they happen anyway. And when they do, they make us believe in something greater than ourselves.
In conclusion, "The Coin Behind Your Ear" is a poem that celebrates the magic of everyday life. It reminds us that there's wonder all around us, if only we take the time to look for it. The coin itself is a symbol for grace, for the small miracles that happen in our lives every day. It's a reminder that sometimes, good things happen to us for no reason at all, and that when they do, they make us believe in something greater than ourselves. So the next time you see a coin behind someone's ear, remember the magic that it represents, and take a moment to appreciate the wonder of the world around you.
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