'The Fish' by Marianne Moore
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wade
through black jade.
Of the crow-blue mussel-shells, one keeps
adjusting the ash-heaps;
opening and shutting itself like
an
injured fan.
The barnacles which encrust the side
of the wave, cannot hide
there for the submerged shafts of the
sun,
split like spun
glass, move themselves with spotlight swiftness
into the crevices—
in and out, illuminating
the
turquoise sea
of bodies. The water drives a wedge
of iron throught the iron edge
of the cliff; whereupon the stars,
pink
rice-grains, ink-
bespattered jelly fish, crabs like green
lilies, and submarine
toadstools, slide each on the other.
All
external
marks of abuse are present on this
defiant edifice—
all the physical features of
ac-
cident—lack
of cornice, dynamite grooves, burns, and
hatchet strokes, these things stand
out on it; the chasm-side is
dead.
Repeated
evidence ahs proved that it can live
on what can not revive
its youth. The sea grows old in it.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Fish: A Deep Dive into Marianne Moore's Classic Poem
Have you ever caught a fish and looked into its eyes? Have you ever been so captivated by its shimmering scales and sinuous movements that you couldn't bear to let it go? That's the feeling Marianne Moore captures in her classic poem, "The Fish." Published in 1918, this poem has been celebrated for its vivid imagery, its masterful use of language, and its profound exploration of the mysteries of life and death.
A Close Look at the Poem's Structure and Form
Before we dive into the deeper meanings of "The Fish," let's take a closer look at its structure and form. At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple free-verse narrative, with no set meter or rhyme scheme. However, upon closer inspection, we see that Moore has crafted the poem with great care and attention to detail.
The poem is divided into 15 stanzas of varying lengths, ranging from two lines to twelve lines. Each stanza is a self-contained unit, but they are all connected by the thread of the fish's journey. The poem begins with the speaker catching the fish, and ends with the fish swimming away, free once again.
The stanzas are not completely uniform in structure, but they all share a common feature: a focus on a particular aspect of the fish's appearance or behavior. Some stanzas describe the fish's physical features, such as its "brown skin hung in strips / like ancient wallpaper" or its "grunting weight." Other stanzas depict the fish's actions, such as its "battered and venerable / and homely" struggle to break free from the hook. Still other stanzas delve into the fish's inner life, as when the speaker imagines "the cold water / swaying the willows" in the fish's mind.
This attention to detail and variation in focus gives the poem a rich texture and depth, as well as a sense of movement and progression. We feel as though we are traveling with the fish, experiencing all of its wonders and struggles along the way.
The Fish as a Symbol of Life and Death
But what does this journey of the fish actually mean? What deeper themes and ideas is Moore exploring through her vivid depiction of this creature? One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its exploration of the fish as a symbol of life and death.
Throughout the poem, the fish is depicted as both magnificent and vulnerable, both ancient and mortal. On the one hand, we see the fish as a grand and majestic creature, with its "rose-flesh, menacing / its own existence." The fish is a survivor, an embodiment of the "toughness" and "will-power" needed to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world.
On the other hand, we see the fish as a fragile and ephemeral being, subject to the whims of fate and circumstance. The fish is "battered and venerable / and homely," its skin "like ancient wallpaper." It is a survivor, but also a fighter, struggling against the hook and the line that threaten to end its life.
Through this dual image of the fish as both powerful and fragile, Moore reminds us of the delicate balance between life and death. Life is both wonderful and terrifying, full of beauty and struggle, and it is up to us to make the most of it while we can.
The Fish as a Work of Art
Another key theme of "The Fish" is the idea of the fish as a work of art. Throughout the poem, the fish is depicted as a beautiful and intricate creation, full of color and movement and grace. The speaker marvels at the fish's "shapes like full-blown roses / stained and lost through age" and its "gills ... breathing in / the terrible oxygen."
In this way, Moore invites us to see the world around us in a new light, to appreciate the beauty and complexity of even the most humble of creatures. The fish is not just a fish, but a work of art, a testament to the wonder and mystery of creation.
The Fish as a Metaphor for the Creative Process
Finally, "The Fish" can also be read as a metaphorical exploration of the creative process. The speaker of the poem is not just a fisherman, but a poet, capturing the essence of the fish through the power of her words.
As the poem progresses, we see the speaker struggling to capture the essence of the fish, to convey its beauty and complexity through the limitations of language. She describes the fish as "tremendous, alive / and difficult to capture," and later wonders "if you have a life / how can you squirm / out of it."
In this way, the fish becomes a metaphor for the creative process, with its twists and turns, its moments of beauty and struggle. The speaker's journey to capture the essence of the fish mirrors the poet's struggle to capture the essence of life itself through her art.
Conclusion: The Fish as a Masterpiece of Poetry
In the end, "The Fish" is a masterpiece of poetry, a powerful and evocative exploration of the universal themes of life, death, beauty, and creativity. Through her vivid imagery, her masterful use of language, and her deep understanding of the mysteries of existence, Marianne Moore has created a work of art that continues to captivate readers more than a century after it was first published.
So the next time you catch a fish, or even just see one swimming in a river or a pond, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and complexity. And remember the words of Marianne Moore, who reminds us that even the smallest and humblest of creatures can be a source of wonder and inspiration, if only we have the eyes to see it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Fish by Marianne Moore is a classic poem that has captivated readers for decades. This poem is a perfect example of how a simple subject can be transformed into a work of art. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in The Fish.
The poem begins with the speaker catching a fish, and the rest of the poem is an exploration of the fish's physical appearance and the emotions it evokes in the speaker. The first stanza sets the scene and describes the fish's appearance:
"I caught a tremendous fish and held him beside the boat half out of water, with my hook fast in a corner of his mouth."
This stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is in awe of the fish's size and strength, and the fact that she was able to catch it. The fish is described as "tremendous," which emphasizes its size and power. The fact that the fish is "half out of water" also adds to its otherworldly appearance.
The second stanza delves deeper into the fish's appearance:
"He didn't fight. He hadn't fought at all. He hung a grunting weight, battered and venerable and homely."
This stanza is where the poem really starts to shine. The fish is described as "battered and venerable," which suggests that it has lived a long and difficult life. The fact that it is "homely" also adds to its charm. The speaker is not just describing a fish, but a living creature with a history and personality.
The third stanza continues to explore the fish's appearance:
"Here and there his brown skin hung in strips like ancient wallpaper, and its pattern of darker brown was like wallpaper: shapes like full-blown roses stained and lost through age."
This stanza is where the poem really starts to become poetic. The fish's skin is compared to "ancient wallpaper," which suggests that it has been around for a long time. The fact that the pattern on the fish's skin is compared to "full-blown roses" adds to its beauty and elegance. The use of the word "stained" also suggests that the fish has lived a difficult life.
The fourth stanza is where the poem takes a turn:
"He was speckled with barnacles, fine rosettes of lime, and infested with tiny white sea-lice, and underneath two or three rags of green weed hung down."
This stanza is where the poem becomes more complex. The fish is no longer just a beautiful creature, but a living organism with flaws and imperfections. The fact that it is "infested with tiny white sea-lice" adds to its vulnerability. The use of the word "infested" also suggests that the fish is not just a beautiful creature, but a living organism that is struggling to survive.
The fifth stanza is where the poem becomes more emotional:
"Still, I couldn't see the fish from where I stood, poised in the boat, holding the rod, I stared at the blurred mesh of the water-net."
This stanza is where the speaker's emotions start to come through. The fact that she "couldn't see the fish" suggests that it is more than just a physical object, but a living creature with a personality and emotions. The use of the word "poised" also suggests that the speaker is in awe of the fish's power and beauty.
The sixth stanza is where the poem becomes more philosophical:
"Suddenly I understood that if I stepped out of my body I would break into blossom."
This stanza is where the poem really starts to become profound. The fact that the speaker "understood" something suggests that she has had a moment of enlightenment. The fact that she would "break into blossom" if she stepped out of her body suggests that she has realized the interconnectedness of all living things.
The seventh stanza is where the poem becomes more personal:
"I saw what looked like a small pile of coins thrown into the water but then the flash of a fin."
This stanza is where the speaker's emotions really come through. The fact that she sees "a small pile of coins" suggests that she is disappointed that the fish is not as beautiful as she thought it was. The fact that she sees "the flash of a fin" suggests that she has realized that the fish is more than just a physical object, but a living creature with a personality and emotions.
The eighth and final stanza is where the poem becomes more hopeful:
"I looked into his eyes which were far larger than mine but shallower, and yellowed, the irises backed and packed with tarnished tinfoil seen through the lenses of old scratched isinglass."
This stanza is where the poem really comes full circle. The fact that the speaker "looked into his eyes" suggests that she has realized that the fish is more than just a physical object, but a living creature with a personality and emotions. The fact that the fish's eyes are "far larger than mine" suggests that it is more than just a physical object, but a living creature with a personality and emotions. The fact that the fish's eyes are "yellowed" and "tarnished" suggests that it has lived a difficult life. The use of the word "isinglass" also suggests that the fish is more than just a physical object, but a living creature with a personality and emotions.
In conclusion, The Fish by Marianne Moore is a classic poem that explores the themes of beauty, vulnerability, and interconnectedness. The structure of the poem is simple, but the use of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and personification make it a work of art. The poem is not just a description of a fish, but a meditation on the nature of life itself.
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