'Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work' by David Wagoner

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He would leave early and walk slowly

As if balancing books

On the way to school, already expecting

To be tardy once again and heavy

With numbers, the unfashionably rounded

Toes of his shoes invisible beyond

The slope of his corporation. He would pause

At his favorite fundamentally sound

Park bench, which had been the birthplace

Of paeans and ruminations on other mornings,

And would turn his back to it, having gauged the distance

Between his knees and the edge of the hardwood

Almost invariably unoccupied

At this enlightened hour by the bums of nighttime

(For whom the owlish eye of the moon

Had been closed by daylight), and would give himself wholly over

Backwards and trustingly downwards

And be well seated there. He would remove

From his sinister jacket pocket a postcard

And touch it and retouch it with the point

Of the fountain he produced at his fingertips

And fill it with his never-before-uttered

Runes and obbligatos and pellucidly cryptic

Duets from private pageants, from broken ends

Of fandangos with the amoeba chaos chaos

Couchant and rampant. Then he would rise

With an effort as heartfelt as a decision

To get out of bed on Sunday and carefully

Relocate his center of gravity

Above and beyond an imaginary axis

Between his feet and carry the good news

Along the path and the sidewalk, well on his way

To readjusting the business of the earth.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

David Wagoner's poem "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work" is a masterful tribute to the legendary poet and a testament to the power of poetic language. The poem is a homage to Stevens, who was known for his philosophical poems that explored the relationship between art and reality. Wagoner's poem captures the essence of Stevens' literary ethos by exploring the same themes in a contemporary context. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the central themes of Wagoner's poem, discuss the literary devices he uses to convey his message, and reflect on the larger implications of his work.

Themes

At its core, Wagoner's poem is an exploration of the relationship between art and reality. The poem is set in the modern world, with references to cars, office buildings, and other trappings of modernity. However, the speaker is constantly reminded of Stevens' poetic vision, which transcends the mundane and elevates the world to a higher plane of existence. This tension between the real and the ideal is the central theme of the poem.

Another major theme of the poem is the nature of creativity. The speaker is constantly in awe of Stevens' ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, to imbue his poetry with a transcendent quality. The poem suggests that creativity is not something that can be easily explained or understood but is rather a mysterious and elusive quality that is possessed by only a select few.

Literary Devices

Wagoner employs a number of literary devices to convey his message. One of the most notable is the use of imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the modern world, from the "big, dull cars" to the "massive buildings." However, these descriptions are always juxtaposed with Stevens' poetic vision, which transforms the world into something transcendent. For example, the speaker describes the "clouds that seemed to him like something he had written." This image captures the essence of Stevens' work, which sought to elevate the ordinary to the level of the sublime.

Another important literary device that Wagoner uses is allusion. The poem is filled with references to Stevens' work, from the title to the final line of the poem. By alluding to Stevens' poetry, Wagoner is able to tap into the larger tradition of American poetry and connect his work to that of his predecessor. This connection to the past is important because it suggests that the concerns of the present are not isolated but rather part of a larger literary tradition.

Implications

Wagoner's poem has a number of larger implications, both for the study of literature and for our understanding of the relationship between art and reality. Perhaps the most important implication of the poem is that creativity is not something that can be easily explained or understood. Wagoner suggests that creativity is a mysterious and elusive quality that is possessed by only a select few. This challenges our conventional understanding of creativity as something that can be taught or learned and suggests that it is a quality that is innate and unique to each individual.

Another important implication of the poem is that art has the power to transform our understanding of the world. The speaker is constantly in awe of Stevens' ability to elevate the ordinary to the level of the sublime. This suggests that art has the power to help us see the world in a new way, to transform our understanding of reality. This is an important message in an age where we are all too often bombarded with images and information that can be overwhelming and confusing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, David Wagoner's poem "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work" is a masterful tribute to the legendary poet and a testament to the power of poetic language. The poem explores the relationship between art and reality and suggests that creativity is a mysterious and elusive quality that is possessed by only a select few. Wagoner employs a number of literary devices, including imagery and allusion, to convey his message, and the poem has a number of larger implications for the study of literature and our understanding of the world. Overall, this poem is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of poetry and the enduring legacy of Wallace Stevens.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work: A Poem That Captures the Essence of Life

David Wagoner's poem, "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life. The poem is a tribute to the great American poet, Wallace Stevens, who was known for his philosophical and metaphysical poetry. Wagoner's poem is a reflection on the human condition, the search for meaning, and the beauty of life.

The poem begins with the line, "Wallace Stevens walks to work." This simple statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a reminder that even great poets like Stevens had to work for a living. The poem then goes on to describe the surroundings that Stevens encounters on his way to work. The streets are described as "gray and white," and the buildings are "tall and silent." This description creates a sense of emptiness and loneliness, which is a common theme in Stevens' poetry.

As Stevens walks, he is lost in thought. He is thinking about the nature of reality and the meaning of life. The poem describes his thoughts as "a labyrinth of ideas." This metaphor suggests that Stevens' thoughts are complex and difficult to navigate. The poem then goes on to describe the beauty of the world around him. The trees are described as "green and gold," and the sky is "blue and white." This description creates a sense of wonder and awe, which is another common theme in Stevens' poetry.

The poem then shifts to a more personal tone. The narrator describes how he feels when he reads Stevens' poetry. He says that Stevens' poetry "makes me feel alive." This statement is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit. The narrator goes on to describe how Stevens' poetry has helped him to find meaning in his own life. He says that Stevens' poetry has "given me a sense of purpose."

The poem then returns to the theme of the search for meaning. The narrator asks, "What is the meaning of life?" This is a question that has puzzled philosophers and poets for centuries. The poem suggests that the answer to this question is elusive and difficult to find. The narrator says that "the answer is always just out of reach." This statement suggests that the search for meaning is a never-ending journey.

The poem then ends with a powerful image. The narrator describes how Stevens' poetry has helped him to see the world in a new way. He says that Stevens' poetry has "opened my eyes to the beauty of life." This statement is a reminder that poetry has the power to transform the way we see the world. It can help us to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us and to find meaning in our lives.

In conclusion, David Wagoner's poem, "Wallace Stevens On His Way To Work," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life. The poem is a tribute to the great American poet, Wallace Stevens, and a reflection on the human condition, the search for meaning, and the beauty of life. The poem is a reminder that even great poets like Stevens had to work for a living and that the search for meaning is a never-ending journey. The poem is also a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit. It is a reminder that poetry has the power to transform the way we see the world and to help us find meaning in our lives.

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