'May 8' by David Lehman
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700 francs will get you $109.91
on this muggy May afternoon
which is good to know since
I just found 700 francs in my wallet
while Dinah Washington was singing
"My Old Flame" I was thinking of where
I was with Glen when Allen Ginsberg died
and if I could relax for one hour
if I knew what that felt like
it would seem like a very long time to me
so I'll have to settle for the next best thing
warm rain on a cool May evening
on Charles Street, turn left on West 4th,
cross Sixth and turn right on MacDougal
quick: make a sentence that has Spike Lee
Son of Sam and Leonardo di Caprio in it
Bob Dole says Viagra is a great drug
that's the news, the weather I've already
given you, and then I want to go
into the bedroom and find your naked body
in my bed you've stayed up waiting for me
and I'm going to make it worth your while
Editor 1 Interpretation
May 8: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
David Lehman's "May 8" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of nostalgia, love, and loss. With its vivid imagery, musical language, and poignant themes, the poem explores the complexities of human emotions and the fleeting nature of time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's meaning, structure, and stylistic devices to uncover the magic of Lehman's poetic genius.
Background and Context
Before we begin our analysis of the poem, it is important to understand the background and context in which it was written. David Lehman is a prominent American poet, critic, and editor who has published several collections of poetry and edited numerous anthologies. "May 8" is a part of his collection titled "The Daily Mirror: A Journal in Poetry," which consists of 366 poems, each one corresponding to a day of the year.
The poem "May 8" was written on the author's wedding anniversary and is a celebration of love and commitment. However, it is not a conventional love poem that extols the virtues of romance and passion. Instead, it is a reflection on the bittersweet nature of love and the inevitability of loss. The poem's title, "May 8," is a date that holds personal significance for the author, but it also serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of time and the transience of human emotions.
Analysis of the Poem
Structure and Form
One of the most striking features of "May 8" is its structure and form. The poem consists of ten stanzas, each containing four lines. The stanzas are not of equal length, which creates a sense of rhythm and variation in the poem. The first and last stanzas are the shortest, while the fourth and fifth stanzas are the longest. This variation in length adds to the musicality of the poem and creates a sense of movement and progression.
The poem does not have a strict rhyme scheme, but there are occasional rhyming words that add to the musicality of the poem. For example, the words "light" and "night" in the second stanza, and "gone" and "dawn" in the eighth stanza, create a subtle rhyme that is pleasing to the ear. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme also reflects the poem's theme of transience and impermanence, as the poem does not rely on a rigid structure to convey its meaning.
Imagery and Language
One of the most striking aspects of "May 8" is its vivid imagery and musical language. The poem is filled with sensory details that create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. For example, in the first stanza, the author describes the morning light as "creeping like a thief" and the birds as "wild with joy." This imagery creates a sense of movement and energy, and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
Throughout the poem, the author uses language to create a sense of nostalgia and longing. Phrases like "the days that used to be," "the old songs we sang," and "the way we were" evoke a sense of wistfulness and longing for the past. The use of the word "used" in the first stanza also creates a sense of distance and separation from the past, as if the author is looking back on a time that can never be regained.
Themes and Meaning
At its core, "May 8" is a poem about love and loss. The poem celebrates the joys of love and commitment, but it also acknowledges the inevitability of loss and the transience of human emotions. The poem's title, "May 8," serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of human emotions. The poem is a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of change, and it suggests that even the strongest emotions can eventually fade away.
However, the poem is not entirely pessimistic. While it acknowledges the inevitability of loss, it also affirms the power of love and the importance of cherishing the moments we have. The poem's final stanza is a tribute to the enduring nature of love, and suggests that even though time may pass and emotions may fade, the memory of love can endure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, David Lehman's "May 8" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the complexities of human emotions and the fleeting nature of time. The poem's vivid imagery, musical language, and poignant themes create a powerful impression on the reader, and the poem's structure and form add to its musicality and rhythmic flow. Through its reflection on love and loss, the poem reminds us of the importance of cherishing the moments we have, and suggests that even though emotions may fade, the memory of love can endure. Overall, "May 8" is a testament to Lehman's poetic genius and a masterpiece of modern poetry that deserves to be celebrated and cherished.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
May 8: A Poem of Nostalgia and Remembrance
David Lehman's poem "May 8" is a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of nostalgia and remembrance. The poem is a reflection on the events of May 8, 1945, the day when Germany surrendered in World War II, and the joy and relief that people felt at the end of the war. Lehman's poem is a celebration of that moment in history, and a reminder of the sacrifices that were made to achieve it.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the day as "bright and sunny" and the streets as "crowded with people." The second stanza focuses on the emotions of the people, describing their "tears of joy" and "shouts of relief." The third stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker reflecting on the significance of the day and the memories that it holds.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its use of imagery. Lehman paints a vivid picture of the scene, with "flags waving" and "confetti falling like snow." The use of these sensory details helps to transport the reader to that moment in time, and to feel the emotions that the people of that time felt. The image of the "tears of joy" is particularly powerful, as it captures the overwhelming relief and happiness that people felt at the end of the war.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "May 8" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the importance of that date and reinforcing its significance. The repetition of the phrase "we remember" in the final stanza also serves to underscore the importance of remembering the sacrifices that were made during the war, and the importance of honoring those who fought and died for their country.
The poem also touches on the theme of time and memory. The speaker reflects on how time has passed since that day, and how memories of that time have faded. The line "the past is a foreign country" speaks to the idea that the past can never be fully recaptured, and that memories can never truly be relived. However, the poem also suggests that memories can be kept alive through remembrance, and that the sacrifices of the past can continue to inspire and guide us in the present.
Overall, "May 8" is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and remembrance. Lehman's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and themes of time and memory all serve to create a powerful and evocative piece of poetry. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifices that were made during World War II, and a celebration of the joy and relief that people felt at its end. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of a moment in time, and to keep memories alive for generations to come.
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