'One Train May Hide Another' by Kenneth Koch
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(sign at a railroad crossing in Kenya)
In a poem, one line may hide another line,
As at a crossing, one train may hide another train.
That is, if you are waiting to cross
The tracks, wait to do it for one moment at
Least after the first train is gone. And so when you read
Wait until you have read the next line—
Then it is safe to go on reading.
In a family one sister may conceal another,
So, when you are courting, it's best to have them all in view
Otherwise in coming to find one you may love another.
One father or one brother may hide the man,
If you are a woman, whom you have been waiting to love.
So always standing in front of something the other
As words stand in front of objects, feelings, and ideas.
One wish may hide another. And one person's reputation may hide
The reputation of another. One dog may conceal another
On a lawn, so if you escape the first one you're not necessarily safe;
One lilac may hide another and then a lot of lilacs and on the Appia
Antica one tomb
May hide a number of other tombs. In love, one reproach may hide another,
One small complaint may hide a great one.
One injustice may hide another—one colonial may hide another,
One blaring red uniform another, and another, a whole column. One bath
may hide another bath
As when, after bathing, one walks out into the rain.
One idea may hide another: Life is simple
Hide Life is incredibly complex, as in the prose of Gertrude Stein
One sentence hides another and is another as well. And in the laboratory
One invention may hide another invention,
One evening may hide another, one shadow, a nest of shadows.
One dark red, or one blue, or one purple—this is a painting
By someone after Matisse. One waits at the tracks until they pass,
These hidden doubles or, sometimes, likenesses. One identical twin
May hide the other. And there may be even more in there! The obstetrician
Gazes at the Valley of the Var. We used to live there, my wife and I, but
One life hid another life. And now she is gone and I am here.
A vivacious mother hides a gawky daughter. The daughter hides
Her own vivacious daughter in turn. They are in
A railway station and the daughter is holding a bag
Bigger than her mother's bag and successfully hides it.
In offering to pick up the daughter's bag one finds oneself confronted by
the mother's
And has to carry that one, too. So one hitchhiker
May deliberately hide another and one cup of coffee
Another, too, until one is over-excited. One love may hide another love
or the same love
As when "I love you" suddenly rings false and one discovers
The better love lingering behind, as when "I'm full of doubts"
Hides "I'm certain about something and it is that"
And one dream may hide another as is well known, always, too. In the
Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve may hide the real Adam and Eve.
Jerusalem may hide another Jerusalem.
When you come to something, stop to let it pass
So you can see what else is there. At home, no matter where,
Internal tracks pose dangers, too: one memory
Certainly hides another, that being what memory is all about,
The eternal reverse succession of contemplated entities. Reading
A Sentimental Journey look around
When you have finished, for Tristram Shandy, to see
If it is standing there, it should be, stronger
And more profound and theretofore hidden as Santa Maria Maggiore
May be hidden by similar churches inside Rome. One sidewalk
May hide another, as when you're asleep there, and
One song hide another song; a pounding upstairs
Hide the beating of drums. One friend may hide another, you sit at the
foot of a tree
With one and when you get up to leave there is another
Whom you'd have preferred to talk to all along. One teacher,
One doctor, one ecstasy, one illness, one woman, one man
May hide another. Pause to let the first one pass.
You think, Now it is safe to cross and you are hit by the next one. It
can be important
To have waited at least a moment to see what was already there.
Submitted by alienoreo
Editor 1 Interpretation
One Train May Hide Another: A Masterful Poem by Kenneth Koch
Are you familiar with Kenneth Koch? If not, let me introduce you to one of his most celebrated poems, "One Train May Hide Another." Written and published in 1960, this poem is a masterpiece that deserves to be explored in greater detail. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll delve into the meaning, themes, and literary devices used in "One Train May Hide Another."
The Meaning of "One Train May Hide Another"
Let's start with the title. What does it mean? At first glance, it may seem like a straightforward statement. After all, it's common knowledge that one train can hide another when they pass each other on parallel tracks. However, Koch uses this phrase as a metaphor for something deeper.
The poem opens with the lines, "In a poem, one line may hide another line, / As at a crossing, one train may hide another train." Here, Koch sets the tone for the rest of the poem. He's telling us that poetry is like a train crossing, where something may be concealed behind something else. Just as a train can hide another train, a line in a poem can hide another line.
But what is Koch hiding in his poem? The answer is nothing less than the essence of poetry itself. "One Train May Hide Another" is a celebration of the elusive nature of poetry. Just as one line in a poem may be hiding something else, poetry itself is always hiding something from us. It's up to us, the readers, to uncover these hidden meanings and enjoy the journey.
Themes in "One Train May Hide Another"
Now that we understand the meaning behind the title, let's explore the themes in "One Train May Hide Another." One of the most prominent themes is the idea of ambiguity. Koch uses ambiguous language throughout the poem, forcing the reader to interpret the meaning for themselves.
For example, consider the lines, "All the world's great thoughts have been / Compared to a shaft of sunlight," and "And poets of the highest rank, / Your subtlest sayings are like cities / Hidden by mistaken deserts - / The least of words an exile's suitcase clutches." These lines are intentionally vague, leaving the reader to ponder their significance.
Another theme in "One Train May Hide Another" is the idea of transformation. Koch uses imagery throughout the poem to convey the idea that things are constantly changing. For example, he writes, "All of the true things that I am about to tell you / Are shameless lies." This line suggests that the truth is subjective and that it can be transformed into a lie depending on the context.
Literary Devices Used in "One Train May Hide Another"
Koch's use of literary devices in "One Train May Hide Another" is nothing short of masterful. Let's explore some of the most prominent literary devices in the poem.
First, there's Koch's use of metaphor. As we've already discussed, the phrase "one train may hide another" is a metaphor for the elusive nature of poetry. But Koch doesn't stop there. He uses other metaphors throughout the poem to convey his message, such as "All the world's great thoughts have been / Compared to a shaft of sunlight."
Koch also employs imagery to great effect in "One Train May Hide Another." For example, he writes, "Your eyelids are the mountains; / The world is hidden behind them." This line creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and adds to the overall sense of ambiguity in the poem.
Finally, Koch uses repetition throughout the poem. For example, he repeats the phrase "one train may hide another" several times. This repetition serves to reinforce the central metaphor of the poem and emphasizes the importance of the idea that things can be hidden from view.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "One Train May Hide Another" is a masterful poem by Kenneth Koch that uses metaphor, imagery, and repetition to convey the elusive nature of poetry. The poem's themes of ambiguity and transformation are explored through Koch's use of literary devices, creating a work that is both thought-provoking and enjoyable to read.
If you've never read "One Train May Hide Another" before, I highly recommend that you do. It's a poem that rewards close reading and contemplation, and it's sure to leave a lasting impression on you.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
One Train May Hide Another: A Masterpiece of Poetic Deception
Kenneth Koch's "One Train May Hide Another" is a poem that has puzzled and intrigued readers for decades. At first glance, it appears to be a simple observation about the dangers of crossing railroad tracks. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the poem is much more than that. It is a masterful work of poetic deception that challenges our perceptions of reality and forces us to question our assumptions about the world around us.
The poem begins with a warning: "In a poem, one line may hide another line." This sets the tone for what is to come, as Koch immediately establishes that things are not always what they seem in poetry. He goes on to describe a train that is "hurtling through the night" and warns that "one train may hide another." This is a literal warning about the dangers of crossing railroad tracks, but it is also a metaphor for the hidden dangers that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.
As the poem progresses, Koch uses a series of clever wordplay and puns to keep the reader off balance. He describes a "blackbird's whistle" that sounds like a train, and a "train's whistle" that sounds like a blackbird. He also plays with the idea of perspective, describing how a train can appear to be moving slowly when viewed from a distance, but can be moving at breakneck speed when viewed up close.
The poem reaches its climax with the lines: "Life is a train, get on board / It moves fast, and it's headed straight for the grave." This is a powerful statement about the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. It is a reminder that we must make the most of our time on earth and not take anything for granted.
However, even in these final lines, Koch continues to play with our perceptions. The phrase "get on board" can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. It can refer to getting on a train, but it can also refer to getting on board with life and embracing all that it has to offer. Similarly, the phrase "headed straight for the grave" can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. It can refer to the fact that we are all going to die someday, but it can also refer to the fact that we are all moving inexorably towards our ultimate fate.
In the end, "One Train May Hide Another" is a poem that challenges us to look beyond the surface of things and to question our assumptions about the world around us. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we must make the most of every moment. It is also a testament to the power of poetry to deceive and to reveal, to challenge and to inspire. As such, it is a masterpiece of poetic deception that will continue to captivate and intrigue readers for generations to come.
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