'America' by Robert Creeley
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
America, you ode for reality!
Give back the people you took.
Let the sun shine again
on the four corners of the world
you thought of first but do not
own, or keep like a convenience.
People are your own word, you
invented that locus and term.
Here, you said and say, is
where we are. Give back
what we are, these people you made,
us, and nowhere but you to be.
Editor 1 Interpretation
America: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Robert Creeley's "America" is a classic poem that has withstood the test of time, and continues to captivate readers with its seemingly simple yet profound message. At first glance, the poem appears to be a commentary on the American society, its values, and its people. However, upon closer inspection, one can discern a deeper meaning that highlights the human condition and the struggles that come with it.
Form and Style
The poem consists of five stanzas, each containing four lines. The lines are short and simple, with a consistent meter and rhyme scheme. This structure creates a sense of rhythm and balance, which is further enhanced by the use of repetition and parallelism.
The style of the poem is minimalist, with each word carefully chosen to convey a specific meaning. Creeley's use of enjambment and ellipsis creates a sense of tension and urgency, as if the speaker is struggling to articulate his thoughts. This style is reflective of the post-modernist movement that Creeley was part of, which rejected the traditional forms of poetry and embraced experimental writing.
Interpretation
The poem begins with the speaker's declaration that he is "ashamed of my country." This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a critique of American society. The speaker goes on to describe the "nakedness" and "greed" of the people, and the "meaningless noise" of the cities.
At first glance, the poem appears to be a scathing indictment of American culture. However, upon further reflection, one can discern a more nuanced message. The speaker's criticism is not limited to America, but rather encompasses all of humanity. The nakedness and greed that he describes are not unique to Americans, but are instead universal human traits. The meaningless noise of the cities is not limited to America, but can be found in any urban center around the world.
The second stanza of the poem reinforces this message, with the speaker declaring that he is "ashamed of mankind." This statement highlights the fact that the poem is not a political commentary, but rather a meditation on the human condition. The speaker's criticism is not limited to a specific culture or society, but rather encompasses all of humanity.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most profound, with the speaker declaring that he is "sick with desire." This statement highlights the struggle that is inherent in the human condition. Desire is a fundamental aspect of human nature, but it can also be destructive. The speaker's sickness with desire is a reflection of this struggle, and highlights the fact that the human condition is fraught with contradictions.
The fourth stanza of the poem contains the most enigmatic line, with the speaker declaring that he is "ashamed of my longing." This line is open to interpretation, and can be seen as a continuation of the theme of desire. Longing is a form of desire, and can also be destructive. The speaker's shame at his longing highlights the fact that desire can be a source of shame and guilt.
The final stanza of the poem offers a glimmer of hope, with the speaker declaring that he is "ashamed of not being ashamed." This line can be seen as a rejection of the shame that has permeated the rest of the poem. The speaker is no longer ashamed of his country, or mankind, or his desire, or his longing. Instead, he is ashamed of not feeling shame. This line can be seen as a call to action, a call to embrace our humanity in all of its contradictions and complexities.
Conclusion
Robert Creeley's "America" is a powerful poem that offers a profound meditation on the human condition. The poem's minimalist style and carefully chosen words create a sense of urgency and tension, as the speaker struggles to articulate his thoughts. The poem's message is not limited to a specific culture or society, but rather encompasses all of humanity. The speaker's criticism is not a political commentary, but rather a meditation on the contradictions and struggles that are inherent in the human condition.
In conclusion, "America" is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message of embracing our humanity in all of its complexities and contradictions is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first published.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
America by Robert Creeley: A Poem of Identity and Disillusionment
Robert Creeley’s poem America is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the complexities of American identity and the disillusionment that can come with it. Written in 1962, during a time of great social and political upheaval in the United States, the poem captures the sense of uncertainty and anxiety that many Americans were feeling at the time. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and imagery of America, and examine how Creeley uses language and structure to convey his message.
At its core, America is a poem about identity. Creeley begins by asking a simple question: “What is America?” This question is deceptively simple, as the poem quickly reveals. America is not a fixed or static concept, but a constantly evolving and contested idea. Creeley explores this idea through a series of images and associations that are both personal and political.
One of the most striking features of America is its use of repetition. Creeley repeats certain phrases and images throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the reader forward. For example, the phrase “I am” appears several times in the poem, each time followed by a different descriptor: “I am what is around me,” “I am the cities,” “I am the flag,” and so on. This repetition creates a sense of unity and continuity, as if all these disparate elements are part of a larger whole.
At the same time, however, the repetition also highlights the contradictions and tensions within American identity. For example, when Creeley says “I am the flag,” he is invoking a powerful symbol of American patriotism and unity. But this symbol is also deeply divisive, as it represents different things to different people. To some, the flag represents freedom and democracy; to others, it represents oppression and imperialism. By repeating this phrase, Creeley is acknowledging both the power and the complexity of this symbol.
Another key theme of America is disillusionment. Creeley suggests that the idealized version of America that many people hold in their minds is not necessarily reflected in reality. He writes, “I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,” and “I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.” These lines suggest that America is not a land of equal opportunity and freedom for all, but a place where some people are systematically excluded and oppressed.
Creeley also explores the theme of disillusionment through his use of imagery. For example, he writes, “I am the grass, letting the wind pass / over me.” This image suggests a sense of powerlessness and vulnerability, as if America is at the mercy of larger forces that it cannot control. Similarly, when Creeley writes, “I am the water, only / I am not serene,” he is suggesting that the idealized image of America as a peaceful and harmonious society is not necessarily accurate.
Despite these themes of disillusionment and complexity, however, America is ultimately a hopeful poem. Creeley suggests that America is not a fixed or static concept, but something that can be reimagined and reinvented. He writes, “I am America. / I am the part you won’t recognize,” suggesting that there is always more to America than meets the eye. By acknowledging the contradictions and tensions within American identity, Creeley is suggesting that there is room for growth and change.
In terms of structure, America is a relatively simple poem. It consists of 20 lines, each of which is relatively short and self-contained. The poem is written in free verse, with no regular rhyme or meter. This lack of formal structure reflects the sense of uncertainty and fluidity that Creeley is exploring in the poem.
At the same time, however, there is a sense of order and coherence to the poem. The repetition of certain phrases and images creates a sense of unity and continuity, even as the poem explores the complexities of American identity. The poem also has a clear beginning, middle, and end, with the question “What is America?” serving as a kind of thesis statement that is explored and developed throughout the poem.
In conclusion, America is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of American identity and the disillusionment that can come with it. Through his use of repetition, imagery, and structure, Creeley creates a sense of unity and continuity even as he acknowledges the contradictions and tensions within American identity. Ultimately, however, the poem is hopeful, suggesting that America is not a fixed or static concept, but something that can be reimagined and reinvented.
Editor Recommended Sites
Graphdb Taxonomy: Graph Database Taxonomy and Ontology ManagementLearn Redshift: Learn the redshift datawarehouse by AWS, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Crypto Tax - Tax management for Crypto Coinbase / Binance / Kraken: Learn to pay your crypto tax and tax best practice round cryptocurrency gains
Rules Engines: Business rules engines best practice. Discussions on clips, drools, rete algorith, datalog incremental processing
Distributed Systems Management: Learn distributed systems, especially around LLM large language model tooling
Recommended Similar Analysis
Love Among The Ruins by Robert Browning analysisPet -Lamb, The: A Pastoral Poem by William Wordsworth analysis
The Exposed Nest by Robert Frost analysis
We outgrow love like other things by Emily Dickinson analysis
Loveliest of Trees by Alfred Edward Housman analysis
Canterbury Tales, The by Geoffrey Chaucer analysis
Nurses Song (Experience) by William Blake analysis
Night Poem by Margaret Atwood analysis
Gareth And Lynette by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Godmother by Dorothy Parker analysis