'The Poem You Asked For' by Larry Levis
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
My poem would eat nothing.
I tried giving it water
but it said no,
worrying me.
Day after day,
I held it up to the llight,
turning it over,
but it only pressed its lips
more tightly together.
It grew sullen, like a toad
through with being teased.
I offered it money,
my clothes, my car with a full tank.
But the poem stared at the floor.
Finally I cupped it in
my hands, and carried it gently
out into the soft air, into the
evening traffic, wondering how
to end things between us.
For now it had begun breathing,
putting on more and
more hard rings of flesh.
And the poem demanded the food,
it drank up all the water,
beat me and took my money,
tore the faded clothes
off my back,
said Shit,
and walked slowly away,
slicking its hair down.
Said it was going
over to your place.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Poem You Asked For
Larry Levis was a talented American poet who gained fame for his evocative and insightful poems. One of his most famous works is "The Poem You Asked For," a haunting and powerful piece that explores themes of memory, loss, and emotional turmoil.
At first glance, "The Poem You Asked For" appears to be a simple narrative poem - the speaker is addressing an unnamed recipient and describing his memories of a summer spent in a small town. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
The Structure of the Poem
One of the most striking features of "The Poem You Asked For" is its unique structure. The poem consists of twenty-six stanzas, each containing three lines. The stanzas are arranged in an irregular pattern, with some lines indented and others left flush with the page.
At first, this structure may seem haphazard or arbitrary, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that Levis was using the form to convey important thematic elements. The three-line stanzas, for example, suggest a sense of brevity and fragmentation. The lines themselves are often disjointed, with unexpected or abrupt shifts in tone and subject matter.
Together, these structural elements create a sense of disorientation and unease, mirroring the speaker's own emotional journey as he confronts his memories.
The Themes of the Poem
At its core, "The Poem You Asked For" is a meditation on memory and the ways in which it shapes our sense of self. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with his recollections of a summer spent in a small town. He describes the sights, sounds, and smells of the place in vivid detail, but also acknowledges the pain and sadness that those memories evoke.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its exploration of the ways in which memory can be both beautiful and painful. The speaker describes the "wind in the trees" and the "flicker of light on the water" with a sense of wonder and nostalgia, but also acknowledges the "crushed flowers" and the "worms writhing in the sun."
This tension between beauty and pain is a recurring theme throughout the poem. The speaker's memories are not simply idyllic or sentimental - they are complicated, messy, and often difficult to reconcile.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of loss. The speaker is haunted by the memory of a woman he loved, who has since passed away. He describes her as "a ghost" who "still haunts" him, and laments the fact that he can never truly recapture the joy and happiness they shared.
This sense of loss is palpable throughout the poem, and gives it a melancholy, elegiac tone. The speaker is acutely aware of the passing of time and the inevitability of death, and his memories are tinged with a sense of sadness and regret.
The Language of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of "The Poem You Asked For" is its rich and evocative language. Levis was a master of imagery, and his descriptions of the small town and its inhabitants are both vivid and poetic.
Consider, for example, the following lines:
In the night, the smell of mint
& the dark, star-shaped shadows
Of the pines on the ceiling.
Here, Levis uses sensory language to create a powerful sense of atmosphere. The smell of mint and the star-shaped shadows of the pines are both vivid and memorable, and help to transport the reader into the world of the poem.
Levis also uses metaphor and symbolism to great effect. The image of the "ghost" of the woman the speaker loved is a potent symbol of the past and the lingering power of memory. Similarly, the "worms writhing in the sun" are a metaphor for the decay and impermanence of life.
These images and symbols help to deepen the themes of the poem and create a sense of resonance and depth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Poem You Asked For" is a haunting and powerful work of poetry that explores themes of memory, loss, and emotional turmoil. Levis's unique structure and evocative language create a sense of disorientation and unease, while his use of metaphor and symbol helps to deepen the poem's themes and create a sense of resonance and depth.
Overall, "The Poem You Asked For" is a masterful work of art that deserves to be read and appreciated by anyone with an interest in poetry and the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poem You Asked For: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
If you are looking for a poem that will take you on a journey of self-discovery, then look no further than Larry Levis' "The Poem You Asked For." This classic poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a detailed look at this poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the reader directly, saying "I want to write a poem that will make you weep." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is clearly trying to evoke an emotional response from the reader. The speaker then goes on to describe the process of writing a poem, saying that it is like "trying to catch a fish in a stream with your bare hands." This metaphorical language is a common literary device used in poetry, and it helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the theme of love. He talks about how love can be both beautiful and painful, saying "Love is a wound that opens and closes." This line is a powerful metaphor that captures the complex nature of love. The speaker then goes on to describe a lover's embrace, saying that it is like "two knives sharpening each other." This metaphorical language is both beautiful and violent, and it helps to convey the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker begins to explore the theme of loss. He talks about how everything in life is temporary, saying "The world is always ending somewhere." This line is a powerful reminder that nothing in life is permanent, and that we must cherish the moments we have while we can. The speaker then goes on to describe a funeral procession, saying that it is like "a river of black water." This metaphorical language is both haunting and beautiful, and it helps to convey the sadness and finality of death.
As the poem comes to a close, the speaker returns to the theme of writing poetry. He talks about how difficult it is to capture the essence of life in words, saying "The poem you asked for is not yet written." This line is a powerful reminder that writing poetry is a never-ending process, and that there is always more to say. The speaker then ends the poem with a powerful image, saying "The stars are falling like snow." This metaphorical language is both beautiful and ominous, and it helps to convey the idea that time is running out.
In terms of structure, "The Poem You Asked For" is a free verse poem that does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This allows the speaker to explore a wide range of themes and emotions without being constrained by traditional poetic forms. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different theme. This helps to give the poem a sense of structure and coherence, while still allowing the speaker to explore a wide range of ideas.
In terms of literary devices, "The Poem You Asked For" is full of metaphors and imagery. These literary devices help to create a vivid and emotional picture in the reader's mind. For example, the metaphor of love as a wound is a powerful image that captures the complex nature of love. The metaphor of a funeral procession as a river of black water is another powerful image that conveys the sadness and finality of death. These metaphors and images help to make the poem both beautiful and haunting.
In conclusion, "The Poem You Asked For" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Through its use of metaphorical language and vivid imagery, the poem creates a powerful emotional response in the reader. The poem's structure and literary devices help to give it a sense of coherence and beauty. If you are looking for a poem that will make you think and feel deeply, then "The Poem You Asked For" is definitely worth reading.
Editor Recommended Sites
Little Known Dev Tools: New dev tools fresh off the github for cli management, replacing default tools, better CLI UI interfacesGNN tips: Graph Neural network best practice, generative ai neural networks with reasoning
Speed Math: Practice rapid math training for fast mental arithmetic. Speed mathematics training software
Timeseries Data: Time series data tutorials with timescale, influx, clickhouse
ML Education: Machine learning education tutorials. Free online courses for machine learning, large language model courses
Recommended Similar Analysis
Elegy X: The Dream by John Donne analysisPoems Of Joys by Walt Whitman analysis
The Imp Of The Perverse by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
William Wilson by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Infant Joy by William Blake analysis
Soldier , Soldier by Rudyard Kipling analysis
If I should die by Emily Dickinson analysis
Sonnet 1: From fairest creatures we desire increase by William Shakespeare analysis
Siege of Corinth, The by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
English In 1819 by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis