'Bearhug' by Michael Ondaatje
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Griffin calls to come and kiss him goodnight
I yell ok. Finish something I'm doing,
then something else, walk slowly round
the corner to my son's room.
He is standing arms outstretched
waiting for a bearhug. Grinning.
Why do I give my emotion an animal's name,
give it that dark squeeze of death?
This is the hug which collects
all his small bones and his warm neck against me.
The thin tough body under the pyjamas
locks to me like a magnet of blood.
How long was he standing there
like that, before I came?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Bearhug: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Michael Ondaatje, the critically acclaimed author of The English Patient, presents us with a short, but powerful poem, Bearhug. In this poem, Ondaatje explores the complexities of love and the struggles that come with it. The bear becomes a metaphor for the challenges that we face in our relationships, while the hug represents the strength and beauty of love. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, structure, and literary devices used by Ondaatje to convey his message in Bearhug.
Analysis of Themes
Love is the central theme of Bearhug, and it is explored in its various forms. The poem opens with a description of a bear, which is known for its strength and power. The bear becomes a metaphor for love, and we are immediately drawn to the idea that love is a force to be reckoned with. The bear becomes a formidable opponent, and the speaker is aware of the danger that it poses. The bear represents the challenges that come with love, such as fear, uncertainty, and the potential for hurt.
The speaker acknowledges that the bear is stronger than he is, but he still chooses to embrace it. This reflects the idea that love is not always easy, but it is worth the struggle. The hug becomes a symbol of the strength and beauty of love because it unites the speaker and the bear. The hug represents the idea that love can overcome any obstacle, and it can bring two seemingly opposing forces together.
Another significant theme in the poem is the idea of surrender. The speaker acknowledges that he cannot fight the bear, and he must surrender to it. This represents the idea that love requires us to let go of our fears and insecurities and surrender to the vulnerability that comes with it. Surrendering to love means accepting the challenges that come with it and trusting that it will lead us to a better place.
Analysis of Structure
Bearhug is a short poem, consisting of only three stanzas, each with four lines. The brevity of the poem reinforces the idea that love is not always easy, but it is worth the struggle. The short lines and simple language create a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader into the speaker's experience.
The first stanza introduces the bear as a metaphor for love. The second stanza describes the hug and the speaker's surrender to the bear. The third stanza reinforces the idea that love requires surrender and acknowledges the challenges that come with it.
The use of repetition in the final stanza reinforces the message of the poem. The repetition of "the bear" and "the bear" creates a sense of inevitability and emphasizes the idea that love is a force that cannot be ignored. The repetition of "all night" emphasizes the endurance required to face the challenges of love. The repetition of "hugged" emphasizes the beauty and strength of love in bringing two opposing forces together.
Analysis of Literary Devices
Ondaatje uses several literary devices in Bearhug to create a powerful and evocative poem. The use of metaphor is perhaps the most significant device in the poem. The bear becomes a metaphor for love, and the hug becomes a symbol of the strength and beauty of love. The use of metaphor creates a sense of depth and complexity, allowing the reader to see beyond the literal meaning of the poem.
The use of imagery is also significant in the poem. The description of the bear creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, emphasizing the strength and power of love. The description of the hug creates a sense of intimacy and tenderness, emphasizing the beauty and strength of love in bringing two opposing forces together.
The use of repetition is also significant in the poem. The repetition of "the bear" and "the bear" emphasizes the strength and inevitability of love. The repetition of "all night" emphasizes the endurance required to face the challenges of love. The repetition of "hugged" emphasizes the beauty and strength of love in bringing two opposing forces together.
Conclusion
Bearhug is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of love and the struggles that come with it. The bear becomes a metaphor for the challenges that we face in our relationships, while the hug represents the strength and beauty of love. The themes, structure, and literary devices used by Ondaatje create a sense of depth and complexity, allowing the reader to see beyond the literal meaning of the poem. Bearhug is a testament to the endurance and beauty of love, reminding us that it is not always easy, but it is always worth the struggle.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Bearhug: A Poem of Love and Loss
Michael Ondaatje’s poem, Bearhug, is a beautiful and poignant exploration of love and loss. The poem is a powerful expression of the emotions that arise when we lose someone we love, and the ways in which we try to hold onto them even after they are gone. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Ondaatje captures the essence of grief and the enduring power of love.
The poem begins with a description of a bearhug, a tight embrace that conveys both strength and tenderness. The speaker describes how he would hold his loved one in a bearhug, “crushing her until she cried out / mercy mercy”. This image of physical closeness and intimacy sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which explores the ways in which we try to hold onto those we love, even when they are no longer with us.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the theme of loss, as the speaker describes how he tries to hold onto his loved one even after she has gone. He imagines her as a “ghost” that he can still feel and touch, and he tries to hold onto her memory as tightly as he would hold onto her in a bearhug. This image of the ghostly presence of a loved one is a powerful one, and it captures the sense of longing and yearning that we feel when we lose someone we love.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker describes the ways in which he tries to hold onto his loved one’s memory. He imagines her as a “book of pictures” that he can flip through, and he tries to hold onto her voice by recording it on tape. These images of memory and preservation are both beautiful and heartbreaking, as they capture the ways in which we try to hold onto the people we love even after they are gone.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a meditation on the power of love, and how it endures even after death. The speaker describes how he can still feel his loved one’s presence, even though she is no longer with him. He imagines her as a “warm mist” that surrounds him, and he feels her love as a “thickening / sweet honey”. These images of warmth and sweetness capture the enduring power of love, and how it can sustain us even in the darkest of times.
The final stanza of the poem is a beautiful and poignant conclusion, as the speaker describes how he will continue to hold onto his loved one’s memory. He imagines himself as a “guardian” of her memory, and he promises to keep her close to him always. This image of guardianship is a powerful one, and it captures the sense of responsibility that we feel when we love someone deeply.
Overall, Bearhug is a beautiful and moving poem that explores the themes of love and loss with great sensitivity and insight. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Ondaatje captures the essence of grief and the enduring power of love. The poem is a testament to the ways in which we try to hold onto the people we love, even after they are gone, and it reminds us of the importance of cherishing the memories of those we have lost.
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