'A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts' by Wallace Stevens
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The difficulty to think at the end of day,
When the shapeless shadow covers the sun
And nothing is left except light on your fur—
There was the cat slopping its milk all day,
Fat cat, red tongue, green mind, white milk
And August the most peaceful month.
To be, in the grass, in the peacefullest time,
Without that monument of cat,
The cat forgotten on the moon;
And to feel that the light is a rabbit-light
In which everything is meant for you
And nothing need be explained;
Then there is nothing to think of. It comes of it-
self;
And east rushes west and west rushes down,
No matter. The grass is full
And full of yourself. The trees around are for you,
The whole of the wideness of night is for you,
A self that touches all edges,
You become a self that fills the four corners of
night.
The red cat hides away in the fur-light
And there you are humped high, humped up,
You are humped higher and higher, black as
stone—
You sit with your head like a carving in space
And the little green cat is a bug in the grass.
Submitted by Ariel Hansen
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts: A Marvelous Poem by Wallace Stevens
Have you ever wondered how a rabbit could become the king of ghosts? Who would have thought that such a concept could be transformed into a beautiful poem? Wallace Stevens, the renowned American poet, does just that in his masterpiece, "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts." This poem is a celebration of the imagination, the creative force that enables us to see beyond the ordinary and discover the extraordinary.
At first glance, one may think that the poem is a simple fable, but upon closer inspection, it is anything but that. The poem is comprised of six stanzas, each with three lines. The first stanza sets the stage for the poem, with the speaker describing how the rabbit ascends to the throne of ghosts. The second stanza introduces the ghostly subjects, who are described as "little rabbits" that are "as real as real can be." The third stanza highlights the rabbit king's authority, as he "chews a little leaf" and "fills the world with his commanding voice."
The fourth stanza is where the poem takes a turn, with the rabbit king being described as "a king of immense sorrows." The fifth stanza further explores this theme, with the rabbit king "holding court" and being "lost in his own importance." The final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the rabbit king descending from his throne and returning to the real world, leaving the ghosts behind.
The poem is full of rich imagery and figurative language. Stevens uses metaphors and similes to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The rabbit king is compared to a kingfisher, with his "bright eye" and "ruffled wing." The ghostly subjects are described as "little rabbits," which suggests that they are mere imitations of the real thing. The rabbit king's voice is said to "fill the world," which emphasizes his power and authority.
The poem also explores themes of authority, power, and imagination. The rabbit king's authority is absolute, as he commands the ghostly subjects with his mere presence. His power is not derived from brute force, but from his imagination and ability to create a new reality. The ghostly subjects are not real, but they are made real by the rabbit king's imagination.
The theme of imagination is also explored in the poem. The rabbit king's ability to imagine a new reality is what sets him apart from the other rabbits. He is not content with the mundane world of reality, but instead, he seeks to create something new and fantastical. This is exemplified in the line, "He creates, he also destroys." The rabbit king's imagination is a powerful force that can create and destroy worlds.
The poem is also notable for its use of sound and rhythm. The poem has a musical quality to it, with its repetitive structure and use of alliteration. The repeated use of the letter "r" in the first stanza, for example, gives the poem a sense of rhythm and flow. The use of consonance and assonance throughout the poem also adds to its musical quality.
In conclusion, "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts" is a masterful poem that explores themes of imagination, power, and authority. Stevens' use of vivid imagery, figurative language, and musicality create a memorable and thought-provoking work of art. The poem reminds us of the power of the human imagination and its ability to create new worlds and realities. It is a celebration of creativity, and a testament to the enduring power of literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts: A Masterpiece of Imagination and Philosophy
Wallace Stevens, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was known for his unique style of combining abstract ideas with vivid imagery. His poem "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts" is a perfect example of his mastery of language and imagination. In this poem, Stevens creates a world where a rabbit becomes the king of ghosts, and through this imaginative scenario, he explores the themes of power, identity, and the nature of reality.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene where a rabbit is sitting on a throne, surrounded by ghosts. The rabbit is described as "a king of autumn" and "a king of the senses," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The rabbit is not just any ordinary rabbit, but a symbol of power and authority. The ghosts, on the other hand, represent the intangible and ephemeral nature of existence. They are the remnants of the past, the memories that linger on even after death.
As the poem progresses, the speaker questions the identity of the rabbit. Is it really a rabbit, or is it something else entirely? The speaker says, "What is the presence? What is it waiting for?" This line suggests that the rabbit's identity is not fixed, but rather, it is waiting for something to define it. The rabbit is a symbol of the fluidity of identity, and how it can change depending on the context.
The poem also explores the theme of power and its relationship with identity. The rabbit is the king of the ghosts, but what does that really mean? Is it a position of power, or is it a burden? The speaker says, "The rabbit has a dignity of motion as he swims." This line suggests that the rabbit is not just a passive ruler, but an active one. He has a sense of purpose and direction, which gives him power over the ghosts.
Stevens also uses the poem to explore the nature of reality. The rabbit is a king of ghosts, which suggests that he is not bound by the laws of the physical world. He exists in a realm that is beyond our understanding, a world of imagination and possibility. The speaker says, "The rabbit has a realm and it is deft." This line suggests that the rabbit's realm is not just a physical place, but a state of mind. It is a realm of creativity and imagination, where anything is possible.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality. The ghosts represent the past, the memories that linger on even after death. The rabbit, on the other hand, represents the present, the fleeting moment that is always slipping away. The speaker says, "The rabbit has a secret which he will never reveal." This line suggests that the rabbit knows something that we don't, something about the nature of existence and mortality.
In conclusion, "A Rabbit As King Of The Ghosts" is a masterpiece of imagination and philosophy. Through the use of vivid imagery and abstract ideas, Wallace Stevens creates a world that is both familiar and strange. The poem explores the themes of power, identity, and the nature of reality, and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and awe. It is a testament to the power of poetry to transport us to new worlds and to challenge our understanding of the world around us.
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