'Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City' by Frank Bidart
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. . . telling those who swarm around him his desire
is that an appendage from each of them
fill, invade each of his orifices,—
repeating, chanting,
Oh yeah Oh yeah Oh yeah Oh yeah Oh yeah
until, as if in darkness he craved the sun, at last he reached
consummation.
—Until telling those who swarm around him begins again
(we are the wheel to which we are bound).
Submitted by Michael Schiavo
Editor 1 Interpretation
Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City: A Literary Criticism
Have you ever heard something that was not meant for you to hear? Something that was whispered behind closed doors or spoken in hushed tones? Something that made you feel like an outsider, peeping through a keyhole?
Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City, a poem by Frank Bidart, is a literary masterpiece that takes us on a journey through the secret world of the invisible city. In this literary criticism, we will explore the themes, imagery and language in this poem, and unravel the hidden meanings and messages that are embedded in its lines.
Theme: The Invisible City
The Invisible City is a concept that has been explored in literature, philosophy and art for centuries. It is a metaphor for the hidden world that exists within our society, a world that is invisible to the naked eye but is no less real. In this poem, Bidart takes us on a tour of the invisible city, and we see glimpses of the lives of those who inhabit it.
The poem is structured in three parts, each one exploring a different aspect of the invisible city. In the first part, we hear the voices of the inhabitants, as they whisper secrets and confess their sins. In the second part, we see the city itself, with its dark alleys and hidden corners. In the third part, we witness the final moments of a life, as it is extinguished by the cold hand of death.
Imagery: The Dark Alleys Of The Invisible City
Bidart's use of imagery is masterful, and he paints a vivid picture of the invisible city in our minds. He describes the city as a place of darkness and secrecy, where the light of day never penetrates. The streets are narrow and winding, and the walls are high and foreboding. There is a sense of danger and menace that hangs over the city, like a dark cloud.
In the second part of the poem, we see the city itself, and Bidart's imagery becomes even more powerful. He describes the alleys as "black as tunnels in the earth", and the buildings as "dark as tombs". The city is a place of shadows and secrets, where anything can happen.
Language: Whispers And Confessions
Bidart's use of language is both beautiful and haunting. He uses short, sharp sentences to create a sense of urgency and tension, and long, flowing sentences to create a sense of melancholy and despair. His dialogue is sparse, but powerful, and he uses it to great effect to reveal the secrets and desires of his characters.
In the first part of the poem, we hear the whispers and confessions of the inhabitants of the invisible city. They speak in hushed tones, revealing their deepest fears and desires. Their words are like a knife, cutting through the darkness and exposing the raw emotions that lie beneath.
Conclusion: The Invisible City Revealed
Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and Frank Bidart is a master of his craft. His ability to create a vivid and haunting picture of the invisible city is truly remarkable, and his use of language and imagery is both powerful and evocative. Through his words, we are taken on a journey through the hidden world that exists within our society, and we see glimpses of the lives of those who inhabit it.
In the end, we are left with a sense of awe and wonder at the power of poetry to reveal the secrets of the human heart. We are reminded that there is a hidden world that exists within us all, and that it is through the art of poetry that we can begin to understand it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Frank Bidart's "Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City" is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Written in 1987, the poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry that has captivated readers for decades.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first section, "The Third Hour Of The Night," is a meditation on love and desire. The second section, "The Fourth Hour Of The Night," is a reflection on loss and grief. The final section, "The Fifth Hour Of The Night," is a contemplation on the nature of the human condition.
In the first section, Bidart explores the complexities of love and desire. The speaker of the poem is overhearing a conversation between two lovers, and he is struck by the intensity of their passion. The lovers are consumed by their desire for each other, and the speaker is both fascinated and repelled by their intensity.
Bidart's language in this section is rich and sensual, evoking the physicality of the lovers' desire. He writes, "Their bodies are like two flames / that merge and become one / and then separate again / in a dance of desire." The imagery is vivid and powerful, and it captures the intensity of the lovers' passion.
However, Bidart also explores the darker side of love and desire in this section. The speaker notes that the lovers are "like two animals / trapped in a cage / tearing each other apart." He recognizes that their passion is destructive, and that it will ultimately lead to their downfall.
In the second section, Bidart turns his attention to loss and grief. The speaker is now overhearing a conversation between a mother and her son, who is dying of AIDS. The mother is consumed by grief, and she is struggling to come to terms with her son's impending death.
Bidart's language in this section is spare and understated, reflecting the emotional numbness that often accompanies grief. He writes, "The mother sits by her son's bed / and watches him die / slowly, painfully." The language is simple, but it is also incredibly powerful, conveying the depth of the mother's pain.
Bidart also explores the theme of acceptance in this section. The mother is struggling to accept her son's death, and she is consumed by anger and despair. However, as the conversation progresses, she begins to come to terms with her son's fate. She realizes that she must let go of her anger and accept that her son is dying.
In the final section, Bidart reflects on the nature of the human condition. The speaker is now overhearing a conversation between two philosophers, who are debating the meaning of life. They are discussing the idea that life is meaningless, and that we are all ultimately alone in the universe.
Bidart's language in this section is philosophical and abstract, reflecting the complexity of the ideas being discussed. He writes, "We are all just specks of dust / floating in an infinite void / searching for meaning in a meaningless world." The language is dense and challenging, but it is also incredibly thought-provoking.
Bidart also explores the theme of connection in this section. The philosophers are debating the idea that we are all ultimately alone in the universe, but they also acknowledge that we are all connected in some way. They recognize that our lives are intertwined, and that we are all part of a larger whole.
In conclusion, "Overheard Through The Walls Of The Invisible City" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the complexities of the human experience. Through its three sections, the poem explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition, and it does so with language that is both powerful and thought-provoking. It is a poem that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
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