'Here' by Grace Paley
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Here I am in the garden laughing
an old woman with heavy breasts
and a nicely mapped face
how did this happen
well that's who I wanted to be
at last a woman
in the old style sitting
stout thighs apart under
a big skirt grandchild sliding
on off my lap a pleasant
summer perspiration
that's my old man across the yard
he's talking to the meter reader
he's telling him the world's sad story
how electricity is oil or uranium
and so forth I tell my grandson
run over to your grandpa ask him
to sit beside me for a minute I
am suddenly exhausted by my desire
to kiss his sweet explaining lips.
Submitted by David Shackelford
Editor 1 Interpretation
Here by Grace Paley
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were in the presence of a wise and witty old friend? That's how I felt when I first read "Here" by Grace Paley.
This poem is deceptively simple, but as you read it again and again, you start to see the layers of meaning and the clever use of language that Paley employs.
The Form
Let's start with the form of the poem. It's a single stanza of eleven lines, with no rhyme and no regular meter. The lines vary in length, from one word to twelve words. This lack of formality gives the poem a conversational tone, as if Paley is talking to us directly.
The Language
Paley's language is also informal and colloquial, with no lofty or poetic diction. She uses simple words and phrases that we might hear in everyday conversation. For example, she starts with the word "Here," which is a common word that we use all the time in different contexts. But in this poem, "Here" takes on a new significance. It's not just a physical location, but a state of being. It's where we are at this moment, both physically and mentally.
Paley also uses repetition to emphasize certain words and phrases. For example, she repeats the phrase "I am" at the beginning of six lines, which creates a sense of continuity and unity throughout the poem. This repetition also highlights the different facets of the speaker's identity, as she describes herself in different roles and situations.
The Themes
What is this poem about, you might ask? Well, it's about many things at once, and that's one of the reasons why it's such a rich and rewarding poem to read.
On a superficial level, the poem is about the speaker's physical location and her surroundings. She describes the streets, the buildings, the people, and the weather in vivid detail, as if she wants us to see what she sees.
But on a deeper level, the poem is about the speaker's inner life and her existential questions. She wonders about her purpose in life, her place in the world, and her relationship with others. She also reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
The Tone
Despite these weighty themes, the poem never feels heavy or depressing. On the contrary, it has a light and playful tone, with a touch of irony and humor. Paley uses understatement and sarcasm to make us smile and nod in recognition.
For example, she says that she is "a woman in a red hat / who doesn't stop talking / about where she comes from," which is a common stereotype of women in public spaces. But instead of criticizing or mocking the woman, Paley simply observes her with detached amusement.
The Interpretation
So, what can we learn from this poem? Well, I think it teaches us to appreciate the small moments of life and the beauty of the ordinary. We don't have to travel to exotic places or have extraordinary experiences to find meaning and joy. We can find them right here, where we are, if we pay attention and use our senses.
The poem also encourages us to embrace our contradictions and our multiple identities. We don't have to be one thing all the time or fit into a neat category. We can be mothers, daughters, friends, writers, activists, and many other things at once. We can be complex and contradictory and still be ourselves.
Finally, the poem reminds us of our mortality and the urgency of living fully. We don't have all the time in the world, and we don't know when our time will run out. We have to make the most of what we have and appreciate it while we can.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, "Here" by Grace Paley is a wonderful poem that combines simplicity, depth, humor, and wisdom in a unique and memorable way. It invites us to look at the world and ourselves with fresh eyes and an open heart, and to savor the richness of life in all its forms. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves poetry, or who wants to learn more about themselves and the world around them.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Grace Paley’s poem “Here” is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience of being present in the moment and appreciating the beauty of life. The poem is a celebration of the simple things in life, and it encourages the reader to take a moment to appreciate the world around them.
The poem begins with the word “Here,” which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word is simple, yet powerful, and it immediately draws the reader in. The first stanza of the poem describes the beauty of the world around us. Paley writes, “Here I am in the garden laughing / an old woman with heavy breasts / and a nicely mapped face / how did this happen / well that’s who I wanted to be.”
This stanza is a celebration of life and the beauty of nature. The image of an old woman in a garden laughing is a powerful one, and it reminds us that life is meant to be enjoyed. The phrase “nicely mapped face” is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the woman has lived a full life and has the wrinkles to prove it. The stanza ends with the question, “how did this happen?” which is a reminder that life is fleeting and we should appreciate every moment.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the past. Paley writes, “I wanted to be / the kissing booth girl / but nobody wanted to / kiss me when I was young.” This stanza is a reminder that life doesn’t always turn out the way we want it to. The image of the kissing booth girl is a powerful one, as it suggests a young woman who is desirable and sought after. However, the fact that nobody wanted to kiss the speaker when she was young is a reminder that life is full of disappointments.
The third stanza of the poem is a celebration of the present. Paley writes, “Isn’t this / enough / just this / the present / breath in / out leap in / the water / splash laugh / in the sun / gin in hand / chicken / grilled on sound / and fire / and music.” This stanza is a celebration of the present moment and all the simple pleasures that life has to offer. The image of the speaker leaping into the water and laughing in the sun is a powerful one, and it reminds us that life is meant to be enjoyed.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the future. Paley writes, “But now I know that if I ever want to be / any kind of version of beautiful / I need to be / myself / I need to be / here.” This stanza is a reminder that the key to happiness is being true to oneself. The speaker realizes that in order to be beautiful, she needs to be herself and be present in the moment. The phrase “I need to be here” is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker has learned to appreciate the present moment and all the simple pleasures that life has to offer.
The final stanza of the poem is a celebration of life. Paley writes, “Here / is where dogs / bark at their own reflections / where birds / dip their wings / in the birdbath / and are gone / where the sun /flowers / praise the sky.” This stanza is a reminder that life is full of beauty and wonder. The image of dogs barking at their own reflections and birds dipping their wings in the birdbath is a reminder that even the simplest things in life can be beautiful. The phrase “where the sunflowers praise the sky” is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even nature is in awe of the beauty of the world around us.
In conclusion, Grace Paley’s poem “Here” is a celebration of life and the beauty of the world around us. It is a reminder that life is meant to be enjoyed and that even the simplest things in life can be beautiful. The poem encourages the reader to be present in the moment and appreciate the world around them. It is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and uplift readers for generations to come.
Editor Recommended Sites
ML Management: Machine learning operations tutorialsData Integration - Record linkage and entity resolution & Realtime session merging: Connect all your datasources across databases, streaming, and realtime sources
Flutter Design: Flutter course on material design, flutter design best practice and design principles
Learn Rust: Learn the rust programming language, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Lift and Shift: Lift and shift cloud deployment and migration strategies for on-prem to cloud. Best practice, ideas, governance, policy and frameworks
Recommended Similar Analysis
A Lovers' Quarrel by Robert Browning analysisHurrahing In Harvest by Gerard Manley Hopkins analysis
Stars by Robert Lee Frost analysis
The Passionate Shepherd to his Love by Christopher Marlowe analysis
Of Him I Love Day And Night by Walt Whitman analysis
This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams analysis
Song Of The Exposition by Walt Whitman analysis
Long I Thought That Knowledge by Walt Whitman analysis
The Triple Fool by John Donne analysis
To A Butterfly (first poem) by William Wordsworth analysis