'By These Waters' by Frank Bidart
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What begins in recognition,—
.... ends in obedience.
The boys who lie back, or stand up,
allowing the flies to be unzipped
however much they charge
however much they charge
give more than they get.
When the room went dark, the screen lit up.
By these waters on my knees I have wept.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
By These Waters: A Deep Exploration
Oh, Frank Bidart's "By These Waters" is a poem that will take you on a journey through different emotions and thoughts. It is a poem that many readers might find challenging to interpret. However, with a close reading and an open mind, you can understand the various themes and literary devices that Bidart employs to make this a powerful poem.
Background Information
Frank Bidart is an American poet who was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1939. He is famous for his poetry collections, which include "The Book of the Body," "Desire," and "Half-Light: Collected Poems 1965-2016." Bidart's style is often characterized by its confessional nature and its exploration of taboo topics such as sex and death.
"By These Waters" was first published in Bidart's 1973 collection, "Golden State." The poem is a narrative written in the first person. It tells the story of a speaker who visits a river where he used to spend time with his lover.
Analysis of Literary Devices
1. Imagery
Bidart uses vivid imagery to describe the setting of the poem. The speaker describes the "torn, ancient mountains" that surround the river. The mountains are described as "torn," which suggests that they have been physically damaged or perhaps eroded over time. The word "ancient" suggests that these mountains have been around for a long time and have witnessed many things. The combination of these two words creates a sense of grandeur and timelessness.
The speaker also describes the river itself, saying that it is "a blue tongue of silk." The use of the color blue suggests calmness and tranquility. The word "silk" suggests smoothness and softness, which contrasts with the idea of the "torn, ancient mountains." These descriptions create a vivid picture in the reader's mind, which helps us to understand the emotional significance of the river to the speaker.
2. Symbolism
The river in "By These Waters" is a powerful symbol. It represents the passage of time and the impermanence of things. The river is constantly flowing, which suggests that time is always moving forward. The speaker says that "the river is always / different." This suggests that change is constant and that nothing remains the same.
The river also represents the speaker's memories of his lover. The speaker says that "I am here to remember / you who loved the river." The river, therefore, becomes a symbol of the speaker's past and of his relationship with his lover. The fact that the river is always changing suggests that these memories are also constantly evolving.
3. Repetition
Bidart uses repetition to emphasize certain themes and ideas in the poem. For example, the word "river" is repeated several times throughout the poem. This repetition emphasizes the importance of the river as a symbol.
The phrase "by these waters" is also repeated several times. This phrase becomes almost like a mantra or a refrain. It emphasizes the idea that the speaker is returning to a significant place, and that the memories associated with this place are powerful and significant.
4. Irony
There is an element of irony in "By These Waters." The speaker is returning to a place that holds powerful memories for him, but his lover is not there. The speaker says that "you are not here / by these waters." This creates a sense of absence and loss.
However, the speaker also acknowledges that his memories of his lover are not entirely accurate. He says that "the water is too clear / to remember you clearly." This suggests that the memories that the speaker has of his lover are distorted and unclear. This creates a sense of ambiguity and complexity in the poem.
Interpretation of Themes
1. Memory
"By These Waters" is a poem that is concerned with memory. The speaker is returning to a place that holds powerful memories for him. These memories are both positive and negative. The river represents the speaker's past and his relationship with his lover. The fact that the river is always changing suggests that these memories are also constantly evolving.
The speaker's memories are also distorted and unclear. He acknowledges that "the water is too clear / to remember you clearly." This suggests that memory is not a reliable source of truth. Memories can be distorted by time and emotion.
2. Loss
There is a sense of loss in "By These Waters." The speaker is returning to a place that holds powerful memories for him, but his lover is not there. This creates a sense of absence and emptiness.
The use of imagery also creates a sense of loss. The "torn, ancient mountains" suggest that things have been damaged or lost over time. The constantly changing river suggests that nothing remains the same.
3. Ambiguity
There is a sense of ambiguity in "By These Waters." The speaker's memories of his lover are distorted and unclear. This creates a sense of complexity and depth in the poem. The fact that the river is always changing also suggests that nothing is fixed or certain.
The use of irony also creates a sense of ambiguity. The speaker is returning to a place that holds powerful memories for him, but his lover is not there. This creates a sense of absence and loss, but it also suggests that memory is not a reliable source of truth.
Conclusion
"By These Waters" is a powerful poem that explores themes of memory, loss, and ambiguity. Bidart uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to create a sense of emotion and depth. The use of repetition and irony adds to the complexity of the poem. Ultimately, "By These Waters" is a poem that invites the reader to explore their own memories and emotions. It is a poem that rewards close reading and careful consideration.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
By These Waters: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Frank Bidart's "By These Waters" is a poem that captures the essence of human existence, the struggle for identity, and the search for meaning in life. The poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and it is a testament to Bidart's skill as a poet. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem is divided into four sections, each of which explores a different aspect of human existence. The first section, "The War of Vaslav Nijinsky," is a reference to the famous ballet dancer who suffered from schizophrenia. The section explores the idea of madness and the struggle for identity. The second section, "The Second Hour of the Night," is a reference to the time when the poet is writing the poem. The section explores the idea of mortality and the search for meaning in life. The third section, "The Third Hour of the Night," is a reference to the time when the poet is reflecting on his life. The section explores the idea of memory and the search for identity. The fourth section, "The Fourth Hour of the Night," is a reference to the time when the poet is dreaming. The section explores the idea of the subconscious and the search for meaning in life.
The poem is full of vivid imagery that helps to convey its themes. In the first section, the image of "the war of Vaslav Nijinsky" is used to represent the struggle for identity. Nijinsky's madness is a metaphor for the struggle that many people face in trying to find their place in the world. The image of "the second hour of the night" is used to represent the idea of mortality. The night is a metaphor for death, and the second hour represents the idea that time is running out. The image of "the third hour of the night" is used to represent the idea of memory. The night is a metaphor for the past, and the third hour represents the idea that memories are fading. The image of "the fourth hour of the night" is used to represent the idea of the subconscious. The night is a metaphor for the unknown, and the fourth hour represents the idea that the subconscious is a mystery.
The language used in the poem is also significant. Bidart uses a variety of literary devices to convey his themes. For example, he uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas. The phrase "by these waters" is repeated throughout the poem, and it represents the idea of the search for meaning in life. The repetition of this phrase helps to reinforce the idea that the search for meaning is a constant struggle. Bidart also uses metaphor to convey his themes. The image of the night is a metaphor for death, and the image of the waters is a metaphor for the search for meaning. These metaphors help to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem.
The poem is also notable for its use of structure. The four sections of the poem are each divided into three stanzas. Each stanza is composed of three lines. This structure helps to create a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem. It also helps to reinforce the idea that the search for meaning is a constant struggle that is repeated throughout life.
In conclusion, "By These Waters" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It explores the themes of identity, mortality, memory, and the subconscious. The poem is full of vivid imagery and uses a variety of literary devices to convey its themes. The language used in the poem is also significant, and the structure of the poem helps to create a sense of symmetry and balance. Overall, "By These Waters" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of human existence.
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