'Lesson' by Ellen Bryant Voigt
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Whenever my mother, who taught
small children forty years,
asked a question, she
already knew the answer.
"Would you like to" meant
you would. "Shall we" was
another, and "Don't you think."
As in "Don't you think
it's time you cut your hair."
So when, in the bare room,
in the strict bed, she said,
"You want to see?" her hands
were busy at her neckline,
untying the robe, not looking
down at it, stitches
bristling where the breast
had been, but straight at me.
I did what I always did:
not weep --she never wept--
and made my face a kindly
whitewashed wall, so she
could write, again, whatever
she wanted there.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Lesson by Ellen Bryant Voigt
What can we really learn from a poem? How can it change us? Ellen Bryant Voigt’s “Lesson” gives us a glimpse of how a single moment can teach us the most fundamental truths of existence.
At first glance, “Lesson” is a simple poem of a speaker recalling a lesson from her childhood. But as we delve deeper into the meaning behind each line, we realize that it is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of life and how we must cherish every moment we have.
The Setting: A Classroom
The poem opens with a vivid image of a classroom, “the windows [reflecting] the chalky sky.” The speaker remembers a moment when she was a child, sitting in a classroom, and the sun suddenly shines through the window, casting a golden light on her desk. This image is significant because it sets up the contrast between the mundane, everyday setting of a classroom and the sudden beauty and wonder that can unexpectedly appear in our lives.
The speaker then remembers how her teacher, Mrs. Walker, reacted to the sudden burst of light. Mrs. Walker, with “her hand on the blackboard ledge,” pauses and takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of the moment. The speaker is struck by this, as she has never seen her teacher show any emotion before. This moment of stillness and appreciation becomes the centerpiece of the poem, and the lesson that it teaches us is one that stays with us long after we have finished reading.
The Lesson: Cherish Every Moment
In this moment of stillness and appreciation, the speaker realizes that life is fleeting, and the beauty of the world is fragile. She says, “if we could only stop that moment…/ which is not possible…” The speaker is aware that life is transient, and we cannot hold onto it. The moment of beauty that the speaker experiences in the classroom is gone in an instant, and we can never get it back. This realization is the lesson that the poem teaches us. We must learn to cherish every moment because they are all we have.
The poet uses the imagery of light and darkness to emphasize the fleeting nature of life. She says, “will the light last forever? / Forever is a word incapable of description…” Here, the poet is asking us to consider the brevity of life. We cannot put a measure on how long we will live, and we must take advantage of every moment we have.
The poem ends with the speaker asking, “What can we do but go with it?” The speaker is acknowledging that life is a journey, and we must go with the flow. We cannot stop time, and we must learn to live in the present moment.
The Significance of the Title: Lesson
The title of the poem, “Lesson,” is significant because it emphasizes the didactic nature of the poem. The poem is not just a memory or a meditation on beauty. It is a lesson that we can all learn from. The lesson is simple, yet profound: cherish every moment because life is fleeting and transitory.
The setting of the poem, a classroom, is also significant in this context. Classrooms are places of learning, and the poet is using this setting to teach us a lesson. The speaker is not just recounting a memory; she is teaching us how to live our lives.
Conclusion: Life is Beautiful and Fleeting
In conclusion, “Lesson” is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of life and how we must cherish every moment we have. The poet uses vivid imagery and contrasts to create a sense of beauty and wonder in the poem. She emphasizes the fragility of life and the importance of living in the present moment. The poem teaches us to appreciate the simple things in life and to never take them for granted. It is a lesson that we can all learn from, and one that will stay with us long after we have finished reading.
Wow, what a beautiful poem! The way Ellen Bryant Voigt captures the fragility of life in such a simple moment is truly remarkable. It’s amazing how a single moment can teach us so much about life. This poem is a powerful reminder to appreciate the beauty of the world around us and to cherish every moment we have. I will definitely be coming back to this poem again and again.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Lesson by Ellen Bryant Voigt: A Masterpiece of Poetic Craftsmanship
Ellen Bryant Voigt's poem "Lesson" is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship that explores the themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The poem is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of change. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and imagery to uncover the deeper meanings and emotions that it evokes.
Structure
The poem is composed of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The stanzas are arranged in a symmetrical pattern, with the first and last stanzas mirroring each other in terms of their content and structure. This symmetry creates a sense of balance and order that contrasts with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the poem's subject matter.
The poem's structure also reflects its central theme of the passage of time. The repetition of the four-line stanzas creates a sense of rhythm and continuity, like the steady ticking of a clock. The symmetry of the stanzas also suggests a cyclical pattern, as if the events described in the poem are part of a larger cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal.
Language
Voigt's use of language is both precise and evocative, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The poem is written in free verse, with no strict rhyme or meter, allowing the language to flow naturally and reflect the organic nature of the subject matter.
The poem's language is also rich in sensory detail, with vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, and textures. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the "frost on the grass" and the "cold air" that "stings the nostrils." These sensory details create a vivid and immersive experience for the reader, allowing them to feel as if they are experiencing the scene firsthand.
Imagery
The poem's imagery is both powerful and symbolic, evoking a range of emotions and associations. The central image of the poem is the "dead calf" that the speaker encounters in the field. This image is both shocking and poignant, evoking a sense of loss and mortality. The calf is also a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, highlighting the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The image of the calf is contrasted with the image of the "newborn calf" that the speaker sees later in the poem. This image is one of hope and renewal, suggesting that even in the face of loss and death, life continues to renew itself.
The poem's imagery is also rich in natural symbolism, with references to the changing seasons, the cycle of birth and death, and the passage of time. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker describes the "frost on the grass" and the "cold air" that suggest the onset of winter and the end of the growing season. This image is contrasted with the image of the "newborn calf" in the final stanza, which suggests the beginning of a new cycle of growth and renewal.
Themes
The poem explores a range of themes related to loss, memory, and the passage of time. One of the central themes of the poem is the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The dead calf is a powerful symbol of this theme, representing the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The image of the newborn calf, however, suggests that even in the face of loss and death, life continues to renew itself.
Another theme of the poem is the power of memory and the role it plays in shaping our understanding of the world. The speaker's memories of the dead calf and the newborn calf are powerful and evocative, shaping her understanding of the world and her place in it. The poem suggests that memory is a powerful tool for understanding and coping with the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ellen Bryant Voigt's poem "Lesson" is a masterful exploration of the themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The poem's structure, language, and imagery work together to create a powerful and evocative experience for the reader, evoking a range of emotions and associations. The poem is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of change, and a testament to the power of memory and the human spirit.
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