'Postcards' by Margaret Atwood
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I'm thinking about you. What else can I say?
The palm trees on the reverse
are a delusion; so is the pink sand.
What we have are the usual
fractured coke bottles and the smell
of backed-up drains, too sweet,
like a mango on the verge
of rot, which we have also.
The air clear sweat, mosquitoes
& their tracks; birds & elusive.
Time comes in waves here, a sickness, one
day after the other rolling on;
I move up, it's called
awake, then down into the uneasy
nights but never
forward. The roosters crow
for hours before dawn, and a prodded
child howls & howls
on the pocked road to school.
In the hold with the baggage
there are two prisoners,
their heads shaved by bayonets, & ten crates
of queasy chicks. Each spring
there's race of cripples, from the store
to the church. This is the sort of junk
I carry with me; and a clipping
about democracy from the local paper.
Outside the window
they're building the damn hotel,
nail by nail, someone's
crumbling dream. A universe that includes you
can't be all bad, but
does it? At this distance
you're a mirage, a glossy image
fixed in the posture
of the last time I saw you.
Turn you over, there's the place
for the address. Wish you were
here. Love comes
in waves like the ocean, a sickness which goes on
& on, a hollow cave
in the head, filling & pounding, a kicked ear.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Postcards by Margaret Atwood: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Postcards by Margaret Atwood is a classic poem that explores the themes of memory, identity, and love. Atwood uses language and imagery to create a vivid picture of a woman who is struggling to come to terms with her past and her present. The poem is written in a free verse form, with a series of short, powerful lines that create a sense of urgency and emotional intensity.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker receiving postcards from a former lover. The postcards are described as "cool as glaciers," and they evoke a sense of distance and detachment. The speaker is clearly conflicted about her feelings towards the sender of the postcards, and this tension is reflected in the language and imagery used throughout the poem.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as it describes the speaker's memories of the past. The language here is vivid and evocative, as Atwood uses sensory details to create a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker describes the scent of lilacs, the sound of a train whistle, and the feel of grass beneath her feet. These sensory details bring the past to life, and create a sense of contrast with the cold, distant postcards.
As the poem progresses, the tension between the speaker's memories of the past and her present reality becomes more pronounced. The speaker describes herself as an "angel of forgetfulness," suggesting that she is struggling to forget the past and move on with her life. At the same time, however, she is haunted by the memories of her former lover, and is unable to fully let go.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as it brings together the themes of memory and love. The speaker describes herself as a "ghost," suggesting that she is haunted by her past. At the same time, however, she is still drawn to her former lover, and cannot completely let go of the memories they shared. The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant, as the speaker describes herself as "a woman who loves." This final line suggests that despite the pain and longing she feels, the speaker is still capable of love and connection.
Interpretation of the Poem
Postcards is a powerful poem that explores the themes of memory, identity, and love. Atwood uses language and imagery to create a vivid picture of a woman who is struggling to come to terms with her past and her present. The poem is written in a free verse form, which allows Atwood to experiment with language and create a sense of urgency and emotional intensity.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it reflects Atwood's own experiences with love and memory. Atwood is known for her exploration of these themes in her writing, and it is possible that Postcards is a reflection of her own struggles with letting go of the past. The poem is also notable for its use of sensory details, which bring the past to life and create a sense of nostalgia and longing.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it reflects the human experience of love and loss. The speaker's struggles with memory and identity are universal themes that many people can relate to, and the poem is likely to resonate with readers who have experienced similar struggles. The final lines of the poem, in particular, are likely to be particularly poignant for anyone who has experienced the pain of lost love.
Conclusion
Postcards by Margaret Atwood is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of memory, identity, and love. Atwood's use of language and imagery creates a vivid picture of a woman who is struggling to come to terms with her past and her present. The poem is likely to resonate with readers who have experienced similar struggles, and it is a powerful reminder of the human experience of love and loss. Overall, Postcards is a testament to Atwood's skill as a poet, and it remains a classic of contemporary poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Postcards by Margaret Atwood: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
Margaret Atwood is one of the most celebrated poets of our time, and her poem Postcards is a testament to her mastery of the craft. This poem is a beautiful and haunting exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of Postcards and explore the themes and literary devices that make it a timeless classic.
The poem begins with a simple image: a stack of postcards. At first glance, this seems like a mundane and unremarkable subject. However, Atwood quickly imbues the postcards with a sense of significance and weight. She writes:
"I'm thinking about you. What else can I say? The palm trees on the reverse are a delusion; so is the pink sand. What we have are the usual fractured coke bottles and the smell of backed-up drains, too sweet, like a mango on the verge of rot, which we have also. The air clear sweat, mosquitoes & their tracks; birds & elusive. Time comes in waves here, a sickness, one day after the other rolling on; I move up, it's called awake, then down into the uneasy nights but never forward. The roosters crow for hours before dawn, and a prodded child howls & howls on the pocked road to school."
In these lines, Atwood paints a vivid picture of a tropical island, complete with palm trees, pink sand, and the smell of backed-up drains. However, she quickly undercuts this idyllic image by describing the "usual" detritus of human civilization: fractured coke bottles and the smell of rotting mangoes. The air is thick with sweat and mosquitoes, and time seems to move in a circular, repetitive fashion. The roosters crow for hours before dawn, and a child howls on the way to school. This is not a paradise, but a place of discomfort and unease.
Atwood then shifts her focus to the postcards themselves. She writes:
"I have a stack of them written on my own hand and on the backs of others" These postcards are not just a collection of pretty pictures; they are a record of the poet's own experiences. Atwood has written on them with her own hand, and on the backs of others. They are a tangible reminder of the past, a way of holding onto memories that might otherwise slip away.
The poem then takes a turn, as Atwood begins to reflect on the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. She writes:
"I didn't want to lose you. Yet losing you is what happened. Now I can only write what I remember."
These lines are heartbreaking in their simplicity. Atwood acknowledges that she has lost someone important to her, and that all she has left are her memories. She cannot bring this person back, but she can write about them and keep their memory alive.
Atwood then goes on to describe the act of writing itself. She writes:
"Without you the air smells different, the wind wouldn't touch me like this." Here, Atwood is using the act of writing as a way of connecting with the person she has lost. Writing is a way of keeping them close, of feeling their presence even though they are gone. The air smells different without them, but writing allows Atwood to feel their presence in a different way.
The poem then takes another turn, as Atwood reflects on the nature of memory itself. She writes:
"I want to tell you about the sunsets here, about how much they cost at the markets but I can't, I don't know where to start."
This is a powerful moment in the poem, as Atwood acknowledges the limitations of memory. She wants to share her experiences with the person she has lost, but she cannot fully capture the beauty of the sunsets or the experience of haggling at the markets. Memory is imperfect, and it can never fully capture the richness of lived experience.
Atwood then brings the poem to a close with a final reflection on the passage of time. She writes:
"The world is full of women who'd tell me I should be ashamed if they had the chance. Quit dithering, get up, go on out and do something worthwhile with your life. I used to think I was a child; now I think I am a woman and my father still calls me child. What does that make him?"
These lines are a powerful reflection on the nature of aging and the passage of time. Atwood acknowledges that she is no longer a child, but she still feels the weight of her father's expectations. She is caught between the past and the present, between the memories of her childhood and the realities of her adult life.
In conclusion, Postcards is a masterful poem that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. Atwood's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a haunting and beautiful portrait of a tropical island and the memories that it holds. The poem is a testament to the power of writing and the importance of holding onto memories, even as time marches on. It is a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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