'An Attempt At Jealousy' by Craig Raine
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So how is life with your new bloke?
Simpler, I bet. Just one stroke
of his quivering oar and the skin
of the Thames goes into a spin,
eh? How is life with an oarsman? Better?
More in--out? Athletic? Wetter?
When you hear the moan of the rowlocks,
do you urge him on like a cox?
Tell me, is he bright enough to find
that memo-pad you call a mind?
Or has he contrived to bring you out--
given you an in-tray and an out?
How did I ever fall for a paper-clip?
How could I ever listen to office gossip
even in bed and find it so intelligent?
Was is straight biological bent?
I suppose you go jogging together?
Tackle the Ridgeway in nasty weather?
Face force 55 gales and chat about prep
or how you bested that Birmingham rep?
He must be mad with excitement.
So must you. What an incitement
to lust all those press-ups must be.
Or is it just the same? PE?
Tell me, I'm curious. Is it fun
being in love with just anyone?
How do you remember his face
if you meet in a public place?
Perhaps you know him by his shoes?
Or do you sometimes choose
another pinstriped clone
by accident and drag that home
instead? From what you say,
he's perfect. For a Chekhov play.
Tall and dark and brightly dim,
Kulygin's part was made for him.
Imagine your life with a 'beak'.
Week after week after week
like homework or detention;
all that standing to attention
whenever his colleagues drop in
for a spot of what's-your-toxin.
Speech Day, matron, tuck-shop, Christ,
you'll find school fees are over-priced
and leave, but not come back to me.
You've done your bit for poetry.
Words, or deeds? You'll stick to youth.
I'm a stickler for the truth--
which makes me wonder what it was
I loved you for. Tell me, because
now I feel nothing--except regret.
What is it, love, I need to forget?
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Attempt At Jealousy: A Literary Masterpiece
Craig Raine's "An Attempt At Jealousy" is a powerful and enigmatic poem that explores the intricacies of human emotion. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and through its use of vivid imagery, intricate metaphor, and skillful narrative, it conveys its meaning in a way that is at once subtle and profound.
The Poet's Mastery Of Language
At the very outset, the poem's opening lines draw us into its enigmatic world. "We know their virtues, / We discuss their merits, / But when they drop off, / We are given their faults." The language is simple and unadorned, but the meaning is complex and deeply resonant. The poet's use of the pronouns "we" and "they" creates a sense of distance between the speaker and the object of their jealousy, and the repetition of "we" and "they" serves to emphasize this distance.
As the poem progresses, Raine's mastery of language becomes increasingly apparent. The narrative is richly layered, with each image and metaphor building upon the last to create a dense, intricate tapestry of meaning. The poem's central metaphor of the "harmonium" is particularly effective. The harmonium, with its "stifled notes" and "airless cage," becomes a powerful symbol for the speaker's own feelings of frustration and confinement.
The Use Of Vivid Imagery
Throughout the poem, Raine's use of vivid imagery serves to deepen our understanding of the speaker's emotional state. The image of the "peaked mountains" and "slowly melting glaciers" creates a sense of distance and isolation, while the image of the "rain soaked garden" conveys a sense of melancholy and loss. Similarly, the "tightly coiled spring" and "trembling hands" serve to convey the speaker's emotional tension and anxiety.
Perhaps the most powerful image in the poem, however, is that of the "hunched and silent" woman. This image is both haunting and evocative, and it serves to convey the sense of isolation and loneliness that the speaker feels in her jealousy. The woman's silence is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of powerlessness and impotence on the part of the speaker.
The Narrative Structure Of The Poem
The narrative structure of the poem is also noteworthy. The poem begins with a series of disconnected images and metaphors, but as the poem progresses, these images begin to coalesce into a more cohesive narrative. The speaker's jealousy is initially presented as a vague and undefined emotion, but as the poem progresses, the source of this jealousy becomes clearer.
The poem's climax comes in the final stanza, when the speaker finally confronts her lover. The use of dialogue here is particularly effective, as it serves to create a sense of immediacy and urgency. The reader feels as though they are witnessing the confrontation firsthand, and the tension and emotion of the moment are palpable.
The Poem's Universal Themes
One of the things that makes "An Attempt At Jealousy" such a powerful poem is its universal themes. While the poem is clearly about the speaker's jealousy, the emotions and experiences that are explored in the poem are ones that are familiar to us all. The poem speaks to the human experience of love, loss, and jealousy, and it does so in a way that is deeply personal and profoundly moving.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece Of Modern Poetry
In conclusion, Craig Raine's "An Attempt At Jealousy" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. Through its use of vivid imagery, intricate metaphor, and skillful narrative, it conveys the complexity of human emotion in a way that is both subtle and profound. The poem's universal themes make it a work of art that speaks to the human experience in a way that is both timeless and deeply resonant.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
An Attempt at Jealousy: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagery
Craig Raine's "An Attempt at Jealousy" is a poem that captures the essence of human emotion in a way that is both raw and beautiful. The poem is a reflection on the feeling of jealousy, and the way it can consume a person's thoughts and emotions. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Raine creates a world that is both familiar and foreign, a world where jealousy reigns supreme.
The poem begins with a description of a woman's hair, which is compared to "a field of corn". This metaphor sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the woman is a symbol of fertility and abundance. The speaker is immediately drawn to her, and he describes her in great detail, noting the way her hair falls around her face and the way her eyes sparkle in the light.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's jealousy begins to take hold. He becomes obsessed with the woman, imagining her with other men and feeling a sense of anger and betrayal. He describes her as a "whore" and a "slut", and he imagines her with other men in graphic detail. The language in this section of the poem is harsh and brutal, reflecting the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
Despite his jealousy, the speaker is unable to resist the woman's allure. He continues to be drawn to her, even as he imagines her with other men. He describes her as "a goddess", and he is willing to do anything to win her love. This desperation is evident in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker declares that he would "kill for her love".
The poem is a masterful exploration of the human psyche, and the way that jealousy can consume a person's thoughts and emotions. Raine's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, a world where love and jealousy are intertwined. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the ability of poetry to capture the essence of human emotion.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Raine uses metaphor and simile to create a world that is both vivid and surreal. The woman's hair is compared to a field of corn, her eyes to diamonds, and her skin to milk. These images create a sense of abundance and fertility, suggesting that the woman is a symbol of life and vitality. This imagery is contrasted with the harsh language used to describe the woman later in the poem, creating a sense of tension and conflict.
The poem is also notable for its use of language. Raine's language is powerful and evocative, creating a sense of intensity and urgency. The speaker's jealousy is palpable, and the language used to describe the woman is both beautiful and brutal. The poem is a testament to the power of language to capture the essence of human emotion, and to convey complex ideas and emotions in a way that is both accessible and profound.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its structure. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's emotions. The first stanza is a description of the woman, the second is an exploration of the speaker's jealousy, and the third is a declaration of the speaker's love. This structure creates a sense of progression, as the poem moves from description to emotion to action.
In conclusion, "An Attempt at Jealousy" is a masterpiece of emotion and imagery. Raine's use of language and structure creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, a world where love and jealousy are intertwined. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of human emotion, and to convey complex ideas and emotions in a way that is both accessible and profound.
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