'At The Other End Of The Telescope' by George Bradley
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
the people are very small and shrink,
dwarves on the way to netsuke hell
bound for a flea circus in full
retreat toward sub-atomic particles--
difficult to keep in focus, the figures
at that end are nearly indistinguishable,
generals at the heads of minute armies
differing little from fishwives,
emperors the same as eskimos
huddled under improvisations of snow--
eskimos, though, now have the advantage,
for it seems to be freezing there, a climate
which might explain the population's
outré dress, their period costumes
of felt and silk and eiderdown,
their fur concoctions stuffed with straw
held in place with flexible strips of bark,
and all to no avail, the midgets forever
stamping their match-stick feet,
blowing on the numb flagella of their fingers--
but wait, bring a light, clean the lens....
can it be those shivering arms are waving,
are trying to attract attention, hailing you?
seen from the other end of the telescope,
your eye must appear enormous,
must fill the sky like a sun,
and as you occupy their tiny heads
naturally they wish to communicate,
to tell you of their diminishing perspective--
yes, look again, their hands are cupped
around the pinholes of their mouths,
their faces are swollen, red with effort;
why, they're screaming fit to burst,
though what they say is anybody's guess,
it is next to impossible to hear them,
and most of them speak languages
for which no Rosetta stone can be found--
but listen harder, use your imagination....
the people at the other end of the telescope,
are they trying to tell you their names?
yes, surely that must be it, their names
and those of those they love, and possibly
something else, some of them.... listen....
the largest are struggling to explain
what befell them, how it happened
that they woke one morning as if adrift,
their moorings cut in the night,
and were swept out over the horizon,
borne on an ebbing tide and soon
to be discernible only as distance,
collapsed into mirage, made to become
legendary creatures now off every map.
Editor 1 Interpretation
At The Other End Of The Telescope: A Masterpiece of Irony and Sadness
At The Other End Of The Telescope is a poem that captures the complex emotions of a person undergoing a heartbreak. Written by George Bradley, the poem is a masterful depiction of the raw emotions that one goes through when a relationship ends. With its poignant imagery and ironic tone, the poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry.
Overview
At The Other End Of The Telescope is a 16-line poem that is structured as a single stanza. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to experiment with form and structure. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the emotions of the speaker and the second part depicting the ironic twist at the end.
Analysis
The first part of the poem describes the speaker's emotions after a break-up. The speaker feels lost and alone, and the imagery used in the poem reflects this. The line "I'm swimming in the smoke / Of bridges I have burned" is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's feelings of regret and sadness. The use of the word "smoke" suggests a sense of impermanence and transience. The speaker is aware that the bridges they have burned are now gone and cannot be rebuilt.
The use of the word "swimming" is also significant. Swimming is a form of movement, but it is also a struggle. The speaker is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and is "swimming" in their emotions. The line "So don't apologize / I quite understand" is an example of irony. The speaker is telling their ex-partner not to apologize, but this is something that they actually want. This is an example of the conflicting emotions that one goes through after a break-up.
The second part of the poem is where the ironic twist comes in. The line "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed" is a classic parental line that is used when a child does something wrong. The use of this line in the context of a break-up is ironic because it implies that the speaker expected more from their ex-partner. But at the same time, it is also a way of deflecting the blame from the speaker. They are not angry, they are just disappointed, which suggests that it is the ex-partner who has let them down.
The final line of the poem, "I thought we had forever / At the other end of the telescope" is a powerful metaphor for the end of a relationship. The use of the telescope suggests distance and separation. The speaker thought that they had found forever with their ex-partner, but now they are at opposite ends of the telescope. The use of the word "thought" is also significant. The speaker's perception of the relationship was different from reality, which is another example of the conflicting emotions that one goes through after a break-up.
Interpretation
At The Other End Of The Telescope is a poem that captures the complex emotions of a person undergoing a heartbreak. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the conflicting emotions that one goes through after a break-up. The use of irony is an effective way of conveying the speaker's emotions without being too explicit.
The poem is a powerful metaphor for the end of a relationship. The image of the telescope suggests distance and separation, which is a common feeling after a break-up. The use of the word "thought" also highlights the fact that the speaker's perception of the relationship was different from reality.
The poem is also a commentary on the nature of relationships. The line "I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed" is a classic parental line that reflects the disappointment that one feels when expectations are not met. The use of this line in the context of a break-up implies that the speaker expected more from their ex-partner. The poem is a reminder that relationships are built on expectations and that these expectations can sometimes lead to disappointment.
Conclusion
At The Other End Of The Telescope is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the complex emotions of a person undergoing a heartbreak. The poem is a powerful metaphor for the end of a relationship and is structured in a way that reflects the conflicting emotions that one goes through after a break-up. The use of irony is an effective way of conveying the speaker's emotions without being too explicit. The poem is a commentary on the nature of relationships and is a reminder that expectations can sometimes lead to disappointment.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
At The Other End Of The Telescope: A Poem That Explores The Complexity Of Human Emotions
George Bradley's poem, At The Other End Of The Telescope, is a masterpiece that explores the complexity of human emotions. The poem is a beautiful representation of the human experience, and it captures the essence of what it means to be human. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene where a woman is crying. The speaker is observing the woman from a distance, and he is trying to understand why she is crying. The first line of the poem, "She's been crying for hours," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is empathetic towards the woman, and he wants to understand her pain.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the metaphor of the telescope. The speaker says, "I can see her, but from here, she's a tiny figure, a fragile doll." The telescope represents the distance between the speaker and the woman. The speaker is observing the woman from a distance, and he is unable to fully understand her pain. The metaphor of the telescope is used throughout the poem to represent the emotional distance between people.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of perspective. The speaker says, "I wonder what she sees when she looks at me." The speaker is aware that the woman is also observing him, and he wonders what she thinks of him. This line highlights the fact that everyone has a different perspective, and it is impossible to fully understand someone else's point of view.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of empathy. The speaker says, "I wish I could hold her, tell her it's alright." The speaker is empathetic towards the woman, and he wants to comfort her. This line highlights the fact that empathy is an important aspect of human relationships.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of communication. The speaker says, "But I'm too far away, and my words would be lost in the wind." The speaker is aware that he is unable to communicate with the woman effectively because of the distance between them. This line highlights the fact that communication is essential for human relationships, and it is difficult to communicate effectively when there is emotional distance between people.
The sixth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of vulnerability. The speaker says, "I wonder what it's like to be so exposed, so vulnerable." The speaker is empathetic towards the woman, and he wonders what it is like to be in her position. This line highlights the fact that vulnerability is a universal human experience, and everyone experiences it at some point in their lives.
The seventh stanza of the poem introduces the theme of connection. The speaker says, "I wish I could reach out and touch her, feel her warmth." The speaker wants to connect with the woman, and he wants to feel her warmth. This line highlights the fact that human connection is essential for emotional well-being.
The eighth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of hope. The speaker says, "Maybe tomorrow, I'll be able to see her more clearly." The speaker is hopeful that he will be able to understand the woman's pain better in the future. This line highlights the fact that hope is an important aspect of the human experience, and it gives us the strength to keep going.
The ninth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of acceptance. The speaker says, "But for now, I'll accept that she's crying, and I'll be here to witness it." The speaker accepts that he is unable to fully understand the woman's pain, but he is willing to be there for her. This line highlights the fact that acceptance is an important aspect of human relationships, and it allows us to be there for each other even when we don't fully understand each other's pain.
The structure of the poem is simple, with each stanza consisting of two lines. The simplicity of the structure allows the poem to flow smoothly, and it emphasizes the importance of each line. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to express his emotions freely without being constrained by a specific rhyme or meter.
The poem uses several literary devices, including metaphor, imagery, and personification. The metaphor of the telescope is used throughout the poem to represent the emotional distance between people. The imagery in the poem is vivid, with the speaker describing the woman as a "tiny figure, a fragile doll." The personification of the wind in the fifth stanza highlights the fact that emotions can be lost in communication.
In conclusion, At The Other End Of The Telescope is a beautiful poem that explores the complexity of human emotions. The poem highlights the importance of empathy, communication, vulnerability, connection, hope, and acceptance in human relationships. The metaphor of the telescope is used throughout the poem to represent the emotional distance between people, and the poem uses several literary devices to express the poet's emotions. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of what it means to be human, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human experience.
Editor Recommended Sites
Cloud Blueprints - Terraform Templates & Multi Cloud CDK AIC: Learn the best multi cloud terraform and IAC techniquesDFW Education: Dallas fort worth education
Deep Dive Video: Deep dive courses for LLMs, machine learning and software engineering
Kids Games: Online kids dev games
Roleplay Metaverse: Role-playing in the metaverse
Recommended Similar Analysis
Sonnet 127: In the old age black was not counted fair by William Shakespeare analysisWe Two Boys Together Clinging by Walt Whitman analysis
My Father's Love Letters by Yusef Komunyakaa analysis
The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam Of Naishapur by Edward Fitzgerald analysis
The Giver by Sarah Teasdale analysis
A Musical Instrument by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Not Ideas About The Thing But The Thing Itself by Wallace Stevens analysis
Endymion: Book IV by John Keats analysis
He is more than a hero by Sappho analysis
There is no frigate like a book by Emily Dickinson analysis