'A Martian Sends A Postcard Home' by Craig Raine
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Caxtons are mechanical birds with many wings
and some are treasured for their markings --
they cause the eyes to melt
or the body to shriek without pain.
I have never seen one fly, but
sometimes they perch on the hand.
Mist is when the sky is tired of flight
and rests its soft machine on ground:
then the world is dim and bookish
like engravings under tissue paper.
Rain is when the earth is television.
It has the property of making colours darker.
Model T is a room with the lock inside --
a key is turned to free the world
for movement, so quick there is a film
to watch for anything missed.
But time is tied to the wrist
or kept in a box, ticking with impatience.
In homes, a haunted apparatus sleeps,
that snores when you pick it up.
If the ghost cries, they carry it
to their lips and soothe it to sleep
with sounds. And yet they wake it up
deliberately, by tickling with a finger.
Only the young are allowed to suffer
openly. Adults go to a punishment room
with water but nothing to eat.
They lock the door and suffer the noises
alone. No one is exempt
and everyone's pain has a different smell.
At night when all the colours die,
they hide in pairs
and read about themselves --
in colour, with their eyelids shut.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Martian Sends a Postcard Home: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Creativity
What is poetry if not a means of expressing the inexplicable through the imaginative use of language? Craig Raine's A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is an exceptional piece of poetry that does precisely that. In this poem, Raine effortlessly transports the reader into a world of alienation, confusion, and wonder through the eyes of a Martian. As one reads through the poem, the images that Raine creates immediately capture the imagination and evoke a sense of otherworldliness that is difficult to ignore.
Background
Craig Raine is a British poet and critic born in 1944. He is known for his unique style of poetry that blends traditional and modern elements. A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is one of his most popular works, first published in 1979. The poem has been widely acclaimed for its use of imagery, surrealism, and wit.
Analysis
At its core, A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a poem about perception and interpretation. The poem takes a mundane object, a postcard, and subverts it, making it seem strange and unfamiliar. The Martian's perception of everyday objects is distorted, and he sees things in a way that is entirely different from how humans see them.
The poem's opening line, "Caxtons are mechanical birds with many wings," immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The reader is transported to a world where everything is unfamiliar, and the Martian's perception of reality is entirely different from our own. The Martian sees a postcard as a "fragile X-ray," and the image of the postcard is described as "a series of glyphs/ curved as a scimitar."
Throughout the poem, Raine uses imagery to create a sense of otherworldliness. The Martian sees a chair as "a convenient device for altering the position of the human form," and a car as "a kind of large, hairy egg." The use of surreal imagery creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, adding to the overall effect of the poem.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way Raine uses language to create new meanings for everyday objects. For example, the Martian describes a clock as "a sort of moon," and a lamp as "a pink, incandescent sock." The use of language challenges the reader's perception of reality and makes us see familiar objects in a new light.
The poem is also notable for its use of wit and humor. The Martian's observations are often humorous, and Raine uses puns and wordplay to create a sense of lightheartedness. For example, the Martian describes a television as "a dynamic box of images," and a telephone as "an ear-mousetrap." The use of humor adds to the overall effect of the poem, making it an enjoyable and engaging read.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. The Martian describes the experience of being on Earth as "lonely" and "mournful," and expresses a desire to return home. The final line of the poem, "send me a message/ in the language of cats and dogs," is a powerful image that hints at the alienation and loneliness that the Martian feels.
Interpretation
A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a poem that can be interpreted in many ways. At its core, the poem is about the power of perception and interpretation. The Martian sees the world in a different way than humans do, and this allows him to see the beauty and wonder in everyday objects that we take for granted.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the limitations of human perception. The Martian's distorted perception of reality highlights the fact that our perception of the world is shaped by our experiences and beliefs. The poem challenges us to look at the world in a new way, to question our assumptions, and to see the beauty in the unfamiliar.
Additionally, the poem can be seen as a commentary on the human condition. The Martian's loneliness and sense of alienation reflect the human experience of feeling out of place in the world. The final stanza of the poem suggests that the Martian longs to return home, highlighting the human desire for belonging and connection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a masterpiece of imagery and creativity. Craig Raine's use of language and imagery creates a sense of otherworldliness that is both disorienting and captivating. The poem challenges our perceptions of reality and invites us to see the world in a new light. At its core, the poem is about the power of perception and interpretation, and it offers a unique perspective on the human experience. A Martian Sends a Postcard Home is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of poetry to capture the imagination and evoke a sense of wonder.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Martian Sends A Postcard Home: A Masterpiece of Surrealism
Craig Raine's "A Martian Sends A Postcard Home" is a classic poem that has been admired by readers and critics alike since its publication in 1979. The poem is a masterpiece of surrealism, a literary movement that seeks to explore the subconscious mind and the irrational aspects of human experience. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and literary techniques.
The poem is written from the perspective of a Martian who is observing the world of humans. The Martian describes the world in a series of surreal images that are both familiar and strange. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of human life.
The first stanza describes the way humans communicate with each other. The Martian observes that humans use "ink" to communicate, which is a reference to writing. However, the Martian does not understand the concept of writing, and so he imagines that humans "lick the paper into shape" and that the words "grow" on the page. This image is both humorous and unsettling, as it suggests that the act of writing is a strange and mysterious process.
The second stanza describes the way humans perceive the world around them. The Martian observes that humans have "two eyes" and that they see the world in "stereo". However, the Martian does not understand the concept of depth perception, and so he imagines that humans see the world as a "flat" image that is "folded" in the middle. This image is both surreal and thought-provoking, as it challenges our assumptions about the way we perceive the world.
The third stanza describes the way humans experience time. The Martian observes that humans have "watches" that measure time, but he does not understand the concept of time itself. He imagines that time is a physical substance that can be "wound up" like a clock, and that it can be "worn" like a piece of clothing. This image is both playful and profound, as it suggests that our experience of time is shaped by our cultural and historical context.
The fourth stanza describes the way humans experience emotions. The Martian observes that humans have "tears" that they shed when they are sad, but he does not understand the concept of sadness. He imagines that tears are a physical substance that can be "collected" and "stored" like a commodity. This image is both surreal and satirical, as it suggests that our emotions are often commodified and commercialized.
The fifth stanza describes the way humans experience sexuality. The Martian observes that humans have "sex" and that they use "rubber" to prevent pregnancy. However, the Martian does not understand the concept of sexuality, and so he imagines that sex is a physical act that involves the "exchange" of body parts. This image is both humorous and disturbing, as it suggests that our understanding of sexuality is often limited by our cultural and social norms.
The final stanza describes the way humans experience death. The Martian observes that humans have "coffins" and that they bury their dead in the ground. However, the Martian does not understand the concept of death, and so he imagines that humans are "folded" and "packed" like clothes when they die. This image is both surreal and poignant, as it suggests that our mortality is a fundamental aspect of our humanity.
Throughout the poem, Raine uses a variety of literary techniques to create a sense of surrealism and disorientation. He uses metaphor and simile to describe familiar objects and concepts in unfamiliar ways, and he uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. He also uses enjambment to create a sense of continuity between the stanzas, and he uses line breaks to create a sense of fragmentation and dislocation.
In conclusion, "A Martian Sends A Postcard Home" is a masterpiece of surrealism that challenges our assumptions about the world around us. Through its use of surreal imagery and literary techniques, the poem invites us to see the world in a new and unfamiliar way, and to question our cultural and social norms. It is a poem that rewards careful reading and analysis, and that continues to inspire and delight readers more than forty years after its publication.
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