'Grass' by Russell Edson

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The living room is overgrown with grass. It has
come up around the furniture. It stretches through
the dining room, past the swinging door into the
kitchen. It extends for miles and miles into the
walls . . .

There's treasure in grass, things dropped or put
there; a stick of rust that was once a penknife, a
grave marker. . . All hidden in the grass at the
scalp of the window . . .

In a cellar under the grass an old man sits in a
rocking chair, rocking to and fro. In his arms he
holds an infant, the infant body of himself. And
he rocks to and fro under the grass in the
dark . . .

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Grass by Russell Edson is a thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of identity, memory, and mortality. The poem is written in a surrealistic style, and the author uses vivid imagery to create a dreamlike atmosphere that transports the reader to a world that is both familiar and strange. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the poem in detail, examining its structure, language, and symbolism to uncover its deeper meaning.

Analysis

Structure

Grass is a free verse poem with no specific rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The structure of the poem is simple, but the author uses it to great effect, creating a sense of repetition and continuity that emphasizes the central themes of the poem.

The repetition of the phrase "the grass is moving" in each stanza creates a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the continuity of time. The grass is always moving, always changing, and this is a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

Language

Edson's use of language in Grass is striking. The language is simple and direct, but the imagery is complex and surreal. The author uses metaphor and personification to give the grass a life of its own, which serves to underline the central themes of the poem.

The use of the word "tongues" in the first stanza to describe the grass creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as if the grass is speaking directly to the reader. The image of the grass as a "mouthful of snakes" is both disturbing and powerful, suggesting that the grass is both beautiful and dangerous.

The second stanza is more abstract and less grounded in reality, with the grass becoming a metaphor for memory. The use of the word "ghosts" emphasizes the ephemeral nature of memory, while the phrase "the past is swallowed up" suggests that memories are lost as time passes.

The final stanza brings the poem back to reality, with the grass becoming a symbol of mortality. The use of the word "grim" emphasizes the inevitability of death, while the phrase "the grass will never die" is both reassuring and ominous.

Symbolism

Grass is a highly symbolic poem, with the grass serving as a metaphor for identity, memory, and mortality. The author uses the grass to explore these themes in a way that is both profound and deeply meaningful.

In the first stanza, the grass is a symbol of identity, with the image of the grass as a "mouthful of snakes" suggesting that identity is both beautiful and dangerous. The use of the word "tongues" to describe the grass also emphasizes the idea of communication and the importance of language in shaping our identity.

In the second stanza, the grass becomes a metaphor for memory, with the image of the grass as a "field of ghosts" emphasizing the ephemeral nature of memory. The grass is a symbol of the past, and the phrase "the past is swallowed up" suggests that memories are lost as time passes.

In the final stanza, the grass becomes a symbol of mortality, with the phrase "the grass will never die" suggesting that even though we may die, the world will continue on without us. The grass is a reminder of our impermanence, and the image of the "grim blades" emphasizes the inevitability of death.

Interpretation

Grass is a powerful and deeply meaningful poem that explores the themes of identity, memory, and mortality. The author uses vivid imagery and metaphor to create a sense of surrealism that transports the reader to a world that is both familiar and strange.

The grass serves as a powerful symbol in the poem, representing different aspects of the human experience. In the first stanza, the grass is a symbol of identity, with the image of the grass as a "mouthful of snakes" suggesting that identity is both beautiful and dangerous. The grass is also a symbol of communication, emphasizing the importance of language in shaping our identity.

Overall, Grass is a thought-provoking poem that offers a powerful meditation on the human experience. The author's use of language and imagery is striking, and the poem's structure serves to emphasize the central themes of identity, memory, and mortality.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Grass by Russell Edson: A Poem of Life and Death

Russell Edson's poem "Grass" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of life and death, growth and decay, and the cyclical nature of existence. In this 24-line poem, Edson uses the metaphor of grass to convey a profound message about the human condition and the inevitability of mortality.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "You have seen the grass / growing on the graves." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is both melancholic and reflective. The image of grass growing on graves is a powerful one, as it suggests that life continues even in the face of death. The grass is a symbol of growth and vitality, and it reminds us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still hope for renewal and regeneration.

As the poem continues, Edson explores the idea of the grass as a metaphor for life itself. He writes, "It is the tenderest / monologue, / speaking of itself / in the summer night." Here, the grass becomes a voice, a speaker that is both tender and vulnerable. The grass is not just a plant, but a living entity that has its own story to tell. It speaks of itself in the summer night, when the world is quiet and still, and its voice is a reminder of the fragility of life.

Edson then shifts the focus of the poem to the idea of death. He writes, "It is the secret / of this planet, / laughing in the dark / beneath the earth." Here, the grass becomes a symbol of the cycle of life and death. It is the secret of the planet, the force that drives the natural world forward. The grass laughs in the dark beneath the earth, a reminder that even in death there is joy and laughter.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. Edson writes, "It is the only / sound for miles / in the darkness / of the grave." Here, the grass becomes a symbol of hope and renewal. It is the only sound for miles in the darkness of the grave, a reminder that even in death there is still life. The grass is a symbol of the eternal cycle of life and death, and it reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is still hope for renewal and regeneration.

In conclusion, Russell Edson's poem "Grass" is a powerful meditation on the themes of life and death, growth and decay, and the cyclical nature of existence. Through the metaphor of grass, Edson conveys a profound message about the human condition and the inevitability of mortality. The grass is a symbol of growth and vitality, but it is also a symbol of death and decay. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is still hope for renewal and regeneration. The grass is the only sound for miles in the darkness of the grave, a reminder that even in death there is still life.

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