'Birthday (Autobiography)' by Robinson Jeffers
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Seventy years ago my mother labored to bear me,
A twelve-pound baby with a big head,
Her first, it was plain torture. Finally they used the forceps
And dragged me out, with one prong
In my right eye, and slapped and banged me until I breathed.
I am not particularly grateful for it.
As to the eye: it remained invalid and now has a cataract.
It can see gods and spirits in its cloud,
And the weird end of the world: the left one's for common daylight.
As to my mother:
A rather beautiful young woman married to a grim clergyman
Twenty-two years older than she:
She had her little innocent diversions, her little travels in Europe—
And once for scandal kissed the Pope's ring—
Perhaps her life was no emptier than other lives. Both parents
Swim in my blood and distort my thought but the old man's welcome.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
Birthday (Autobiography) by Robinson Jeffers: A Celebration of Life and Nature
Robinson Jeffers’ “Birthday (Autobiography)” is a poem that takes the reader through the journey of the poet’s life, as he reflects on the various stages and experiences that have shaped him into the person he has become. Through vivid imagery and a deep connection to nature, Jeffers draws parallels between his own growth and the cycles of the natural world, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in our own lives.
At its core, “Birthday (Autobiography)” is a celebration of life, and Jeffers’ love for the natural world is evident throughout the poem. He describes the changing seasons with a sense of awe and wonder, marveling at the beauty of the world around him even as he acknowledges its harshness and brutality. In the opening stanza, he writes:
The day is ending,
The night is descending;
The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of darkness and coldness that is balanced by the warmth and vitality of the poet’s own spirit. Jeffers’ connection to nature is not just a surface-level appreciation; it runs deep, informing every aspect of his worldview and shaping his understanding of his own place in the world.
As the poem progresses, Jeffers traces the various stages of his life, from childhood to old age, and reflects on the ways in which each phase has shaped him. He writes about the innocence and wonder of childhood, the tumultuousness of adolescence, and the wisdom and acceptance that come with age. Throughout it all, he emphasizes the importance of staying connected to the natural world, writing:
I am part of the earth,
My eyes open on the world,
And I am not desolate,
Though all around me is waste and cold.
These lines speak to the transformative power of nature, and the ways in which it can provide solace and comfort even in the darkest of times. Jeffers’ deep connection to the land is not just a source of beauty and inspiration; it is a source of strength and resilience, helping him to weather the storms of life and emerge stronger on the other side.
One of the most striking aspects of “Birthday (Autobiography)” is the way in which Jeffers uses nature as a mirror for his own experiences. He draws analogies between the changing seasons and the different stages of his life, using the cycles of growth and decay that are inherent in the natural world to explore his own growth and development. At one point in the poem, he writes:
Autumn to winter, winter into spring,
Spring into summer, summer into fall,
So rolls the changing year, and so we change;
Motion so swift, we know not that we move.
These lines are particularly poignant, as they capture the sense of impermanence and transience that characterizes human life. Jeffers recognizes that we are all subject to the whims of time and fate, and that our lives are ultimately as fleeting as the changing seasons.
However, despite this recognition of life’s impermanence, Jeffers does not despair. Rather, he finds beauty and meaning in the cycle of life and death, and in the ways in which all things are interconnected. He writes:
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
These lines, taken from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, are often considered to be some of the bleakest in all of literature. However, when viewed in the context of “Birthday (Autobiography),” they take on a different meaning. Jeffers is not suggesting that life is meaningless, but rather that it is brief and fragile, and that we must make the most of the time we have. He acknowledges the inevitability of death, but also finds comfort in the knowledge that all things are connected, and that our lives are part of a larger, ongoing cycle.
In addition to its themes of nature, growth, and impermanence, “Birthday (Autobiography)” is also notable for its use of language and imagery. Jeffers’ writing is characterized by a spare, minimalist style, and his images are often stark and uncompromising. In the opening stanza, for example, he describes the marsh as “frozen” and the river as “dead,” creating a sense of desolation and emptiness that is at odds with the warmth and vitality of his own spirit.
Throughout the poem, Jeffers also makes use of repetition and parallelism, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things. He writes:
My life, I am like
One of those revolving doors
That turn and turn until they twist the bolt out of the wall.
These lines are particularly striking, as they compare the poet’s life to a revolving door, emphasizing the sense of motion and change that is inherent in all things. The repetition of the phrase “I am like” also creates a sense of continuity and connection, linking each stage of the poet’s life to the next.
Ultimately, “Birthday (Autobiography)” is a poem that celebrates the beauty and complexity of life, and the ways in which our experiences shape us into the people we are. Jeffers’ deep connection to nature and his understanding of the cycles of growth and decay that are inherent in all things make this a profoundly moving and thought-provoking work. As we read his words and reflect on our own lives, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of all things, and of the importance of finding meaning and purpose in the fleeting moments we have.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Birthday (Autobiography) by Robinson Jeffers is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and the passage of time. The poem is a reflection on the poet's life and the journey that he has taken to reach his current age. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different tone and theme. The first stanza is a reflection on the poet's youth and the carefree days of his childhood. The second stanza is a reflection on the poet's middle age and the struggles that he faced during this time. The third and final stanza is a reflection on the poet's old age and the acceptance of his mortality.
The first stanza begins with the line "Twenty-eight years ago, in a great city," which sets the scene for the poet's youth. The use of the phrase "great city" suggests that the poet was born in a bustling metropolis, which is a common experience for many people. The poet then goes on to describe the carefree days of his childhood, where he "played in the streets" and "watched the boats go up and down the river." This imagery creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.
The second stanza begins with the line "Twenty-eight years later, in a different city," which suggests that the poet has moved on from his youth and is now in middle age. The use of the phrase "different city" suggests that the poet has experienced change and has moved on from his past. The poet then goes on to describe the struggles that he faced during this time, where he "fought with many men" and "felt the sting of many defeats." This imagery creates a sense of struggle and hardship, which is a common experience for many people during middle age.
The third and final stanza begins with the line "Twenty-eight years more, and again in a city," which suggests that the poet has reached old age and is now reflecting on his life. The use of the phrase "twenty-eight years more" suggests that the poet has lived a long and full life. The poet then goes on to describe the acceptance of his mortality, where he "sits among the ruins of his life" and "waits for the gentle night." This imagery creates a sense of acceptance and peace, which is a common experience for many people in old age.
One of the key themes of the poem is the passage of time and the human experience of aging. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the different stages of life, from youth to middle age to old age. The use of the phrase "twenty-eight years" in each stanza creates a sense of continuity and progression, which is a common experience for many people as they age.
Another key theme of the poem is the human experience of struggle and hardship. The second stanza reflects the struggles that the poet faced during middle age, where he "fought with many men" and "felt the sting of many defeats." This imagery creates a sense of struggle and hardship, which is a common experience for many people during this stage of life.
The poem also uses a number of literary devices to create its meaning. One of these devices is imagery, which is used throughout the poem to create a sense of nostalgia, struggle, and acceptance. For example, in the first stanza, the imagery of "playing in the streets" and "watching the boats go up and down the river" creates a sense of nostalgia for the poet's youth. In the second stanza, the imagery of "fighting with many men" and "feeling the sting of many defeats" creates a sense of struggle and hardship. In the third stanza, the imagery of "sitting among the ruins of his life" and "waiting for the gentle night" creates a sense of acceptance and peace.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition, which is used to create a sense of continuity and progression. The use of the phrase "twenty-eight years" in each stanza creates a sense of continuity and progression, which is a common experience for many people as they age.
In conclusion, Birthday (Autobiography) by Robinson Jeffers is a classic poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and the passage of time. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the different stages of life, from youth to middle age to old age. The use of imagery and repetition creates a sense of nostalgia, struggle, and acceptance, which are common experiences for many people as they age. The poem is a reflection on the poet's life and the journey that he has taken to reach his current age, and it is a powerful reminder of the human experience of aging.
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