'The Clasp' by Sharon Olds
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
She was four, he was one, it was raining, we had colds,
we had been in the apartment two weeks straight,
I grabbed her to keep her from shoving him over on his
face, again, and when I had her wrist
in my grasp I compressed it, fiercely, for a couple
of seconds, to make an impression on her,
to hurt her, our beloved firstborn, I even almost
savored the stinging sensation of the squeezing,
the expression, into her, of my anger,
"Never, never, again," the righteous
chant accompanying the clasp. It happened very
fast-grab, crush, crush,
crush, release-and at the first extra
force, she swung her head, as if checking
who this was, and looked at me,
and saw me-yes, this was her mom,
her mom was doing this. Her dark,
deeply open eyes took me
in, she knew me, in the shock of the moment
she learned me. This was her mother, one of the
two whom she most loved, the two
who loved her most, near the source of love
was this.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Clasp by Sharon Olds: A Deep Dive into a Classic Poem
When was the last time a poem left you breathless? When was the last time you read a poem that made you feel like you were standing at the edge of a great abyss, staring down into the depths of human emotion? If you're looking for that kind of experience, look no further than Sharon Olds' classic poem, The Clasp.
At first glance, The Clasp seems like a simple poem about a piece of jewelry. The narrator describes a clasp on a necklace, one that she has owned for years and has grown to love. But as the poem unfolds, we realize that the clasp is much more than just a piece of metal. It is a symbol of love, of connection, of the power of memory and the weight of loss. In just 15 lines, Olds manages to capture something profound about the human experience - our endless capacity for love and our heartbreaking vulnerability to loss.
Interpretation
Let's take a closer look at the poem and see what it has to tell us.
The clasp on my necklace opens and closes
like a mouth.
It is you whom I would hold,
as I fold this velvet over my throat,
you who are not here,
you at the horizon of my mind.
The first thing that strikes me about The Clasp is the way Olds uses language to create a sense of movement and life. The clasp "opens and closes / like a mouth," a beautiful and unexpected simile that immediately draws me in. I feel like I'm watching the clasp as it moves, as if it has a life of its own. And then we get to the heart of the poem - the person the narrator wishes she could hold. It's a poignant moment, made even more so by the lines that follow. The narrator acknowledges that this person is not there, but she feels them in her mind, at the horizon of her thoughts. It's a beautiful and haunting image, one that captures the essence of what it means to miss someone.
The pearls on the necklace
glimmer and are gone,
pearls that were your eyes,
that were round with laughter,
laughter that came out of your mouth
like a clasp.
As we move into the second stanza of the poem, Olds continues to use language in a way that evokes motion and change. The pearls on the necklace "glimmer and are gone," a line that suggests both the beauty and the fleeting nature of life. And then we get to the heart of the stanza - the pearls were "your eyes," and they were "round with laughter, / laughter that came out of your mouth / like a clasp." There's a lot to unpack here, but what strikes me most is the way Olds connects the pearls, the eyes, the laughter, and the clasp. It's as if all of these things are interconnected, a web of memories and emotions that are all tied together. The idea that laughter could come out of someone's mouth like a clasp is particularly striking - it suggests that laughter can hold us together, even in the face of loss.
But your mouth is not here,
your hands that were like the clasp,
that locked me in and pushed me out
and opened again and closed,
are not here,
only the pearls
glitter at my throat,
only the velvet,
with its hollows and dips,
its hills and valleys,
only the clasp,
which is like a mouth.
The final stanza of The Clasp brings the poem full circle. We return to the image of the clasp as a mouth, which now takes on even more significance. The narrator acknowledges that the person she misses is not there - "your mouth is not here, / your hands that were like the clasp, / that locked me in and pushed me out / and opened again and closed, / are not here." And yet, she still has the necklace, still has the pearls, the velvet, and the clasp. It's a bittersweet moment, one that captures the paradox of memory - the fact that we can hold onto things from the past, but can never truly bring them back.
Literary Criticism
So why is The Clasp such a powerful poem? What is it about Olds' language and imagery that makes it so effective? There are a few things to consider.
First, there's the way Olds uses language to create a sense of movement and life. The clasp "opens and closes / like a mouth." The pearls on the necklace "glimmer and are gone." The hands that were like the clasp "pushed me out / and opened again and closed." All of these phrases suggest motion, change, and the passage of time. They give the poem a sense of energy and vitality that keeps the reader engaged.
Second, there's the way Olds connects the different elements of the poem - the clasp, the pearls, the velvet, and the person who is missing. By linking these things together, Olds creates a sense of cohesion that makes the poem feel complete. We get the sense that everything in the poem is interconnected, that each element is part of a larger whole.
Finally, there's the way Olds captures something universal about the human experience. The idea of missing someone, of feeling their absence even when they're not physically present, is something that nearly everyone can relate to. By tapping into this emotion, Olds creates a sense of empathy and connection with the reader. We feel like we're not alone in our feelings, that someone else has experienced the same thing.
Conclusion
The Clasp is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It manages to capture something deep and profound about the human experience in just 15 lines. The way Olds uses language to create a sense of movement and connection is truly remarkable, and her ability to tap into universal emotions is what makes the poem so powerful. If you're looking for a poem that will leave you breathless, look no further than The Clasp.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Clasp by Sharon Olds is a classic poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the power of memory. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and the ways in which it can shape our lives.
At its core, The Clasp is a poem about the power of memory. The speaker of the poem reflects on a moment from her past when she was held by her lover in a tight embrace. The memory of this moment is so vivid and powerful that it has stayed with her for years, even as the relationship has ended.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the clasp that her lover used to hold her. She describes it as a "silver clasp" that was "tight as a vise." This image of the clasp is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The clasp is a symbol of the intense emotional connection that the speaker shared with her lover. It is a physical manifestation of the love that they shared and the way that it held them together.
As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the moment when she was held in the clasp. She describes the feeling of being "held so hard" that she could "feel the bones in his arms." This image is incredibly powerful because it captures the intensity of the moment. The speaker is completely enveloped by her lover's embrace, and she is acutely aware of the physicality of the moment.
The speaker goes on to describe the way that the clasp made her feel. She says that it made her feel "safe" and "loved." This is an important moment in the poem because it highlights the emotional significance of the clasp. It was not just a physical gesture, but a symbol of the deep emotional connection that the speaker shared with her lover.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the way that the memory of the clasp has stayed with her over the years. She says that she can still "feel the pressure of his arms" and "smell the scent of his skin." This image is incredibly powerful because it shows how memories can be so vivid and intense that they can transport us back to a specific moment in time.
The speaker goes on to describe the way that the memory of the clasp has affected her life. She says that it has "haunted" her and that she has "carried it with her" for years. This is an important moment in the poem because it shows how memories can shape our lives and our relationships. The memory of the clasp has stayed with the speaker, even as the relationship has ended, and it has had a profound impact on her life.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the nature of love. She says that love is "like a clasp" that can hold us together even when we are apart. This is a beautiful and poignant moment in the poem because it captures the essence of what love is. Love is not just a physical connection, but an emotional one as well. It is a bond that can hold us together even when we are physically apart.
In conclusion, The Clasp by Sharon Olds is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the power of memory and the nature of love. The poem is a powerful reflection on the way that memories can shape our lives and our relationships. It is a reminder that even when relationships end, the memories that we carry with us can stay with us for a lifetime. The Clasp is a classic poem that will continue to resonate with readers for years to come.
Editor Recommended Sites
Decentralized Apps - crypto dapps: Decentralized apps running from webassembly powered by blockchainJavascript Rocks: Learn javascript, typescript. Integrate chatGPT with javascript, typescript
Gan Art: GAN art guide
LLM Model News: Large Language model news from across the internet. Learn the latest on llama, alpaca
Gitops: Git operations management
Recommended Similar Analysis
Elephant Poem by Judy Grahn analysisr-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r by e.e. cummings analysis
It dropped so low-in my Regard by Emily Dickinson analysis
Ode by John Keats analysis
Recessional (A Victorian Ode) by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Mutability by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
Tears by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Israfel by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Love and Death by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Final Soliloquy Of The Interior Paramour by Wallace Stevens analysis