'Little Exercise' by Elizabeth Bishop

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For Thomas Edwards Wanning


Think of the storm roaming the sky uneasily
like a dog looking for a place to sleep in,
listen to it growling.

Think how they must look now, the mangrove keys
lying out there unresponsive to the lightning
in dark, coarse-fibred families,

where occasionally a heron may undo his head,
shake up his feathers, make an uncertain comment
when the surrounding water shines.

Think of the boulevard and the little palm trees
all stuck in rows, suddenly revealed
as fistfuls of limp fish-skeletons.

It is raining there. The boulevard
and its broken sidewalks with weeds in every crack,
are relieved to be wet, the sea to be freshened.

Now the storm goes away again in a series
of small, badly lit battle-scenes,
each in "Another part of the field."

Think of someone sleeping in the bottom of a row-boat
tied to a mangrove root or the pile of a bridge;
think of him as uninjured, barely disturbed.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Little Exercise: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Irony

Are you a fan of Elizabeth Bishop's poetry? If not, after reading Little Exercise, you will be. This short yet powerful poem combines vivid imagery, precise language, and subtle irony to reveal the speaker's emotional state and insights into the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Bishop to create a masterpiece of modern poetry.

Overview and Context

Little Exercise was first published in 1970 as part of Bishop's final collection of poems, Geography III. Bishop was a well-respected poet who won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and served as the Poet Laureate of the United States. She was known for her meticulous attention to detail, her ability to capture the beauty and complexity of nature, and her restrained yet powerful emotional resonance.

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. The title, Little Exercise, suggests a playful or lighthearted tone, but as we will see, the poem is anything but.

Themes and Symbols

At first glance, Little Exercise seems to be a description of the speaker's morning routine, but as we read on, we discover deeper layers of meaning and symbolism. The themes that emerge from the poem are the transience of life, the struggle for acceptance, and the power of language.

The first stanza sets the scene and introduces us to the speaker's daily ritual of "picking a mushroom / or watching the rain." The act of picking a mushroom may seem insignificant, but it foreshadows the poem's central metaphor: the fleeting nature of life. Just as a mushroom can grow and decay in a matter of days, so too can our lives pass by in the blink of an eye.

The rain, on the other hand, is a symbol of renewal and regeneration. It is both beautiful and destructive, just like life itself. The speaker is content to watch the rain, to observe its power and beauty, but does not participate in it. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's detachment from life, her reluctance to engage with the world around her.

The second stanza is where the poem's imagery really comes to life. The speaker describes a moth that has flown into her room and is now "beating against the screen." The moth is a metaphor for the speaker's own struggles with acceptance and belonging. She, like the moth, is trapped, unable to break free from the limitations that society has placed upon her.

The speaker's empathy for the moth is evident in her use of language. She describes the moth as "frantic," "determined," and "hopeless." The moth's struggle is futile, just as the speaker's struggle for acceptance may seem hopeless. The irony here is that the moth is fighting against a barrier that is meant to protect it, just as the speaker is fighting against a society that is meant to support her.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle and reveals the speaker's ultimate realization: "It is not terrible / to be completely alone." This line is a powerful statement of acceptance and self-awareness. The speaker has come to understand that life is fleeting, that struggles for acceptance are often futile, but that there is beauty in solitude. The speaker's daily routine of picking a mushroom or watching the rain is a form of meditation, a way of connecting with the world on her own terms.

Literary Devices and Techniques

Bishop's use of literary devices and techniques is what elevates Little Exercise from a simple description of a morning routine to a powerful meditation on the human condition. Some of the most notable devices and techniques include:

• Imagery: Bishop's descriptions of the mushroom, the rain, and the moth are incredibly vivid and sensory. She uses sight, sound, and touch to bring these objects to life and create a sense of atmosphere.

• Metaphor: The mushroom and the moth serve as powerful metaphors for the transience of life and the struggle for acceptance.

• Irony: The moth's struggle against the screen is ironic because it is fighting against something that is meant to protect it. This is a powerful commentary on the human condition and our own struggles for acceptance and belonging.

• Syntax: Bishop's use of short, simple sentences creates a sense of rhythm and repetition that reinforces the poem's themes of routine and meditation.

• Rhyme: The simple ABAB rhyme scheme creates a sense of structure and repetition that reinforces the poem's themes of routine and meditation.

Conclusion

Little Exercise is a masterpiece of modern poetry that combines vivid imagery, precise language, and subtle irony to reveal the speaker's emotional state and insights into the human condition. Bishop's use of metaphor, irony, and syntax elevate the poem from a simple description of a morning routine to a powerful meditation on the transience of life, the struggle for acceptance, and the power of language. Whether you are a fan of Bishop's poetry or a newcomer to her work, Little Exercise is a must-read for anyone interested in the beauty and complexity of modern poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Little Exercise: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her unique style and ability to capture the essence of everyday life in her poetry. Her poem "Little Exercise" is a perfect example of her talent, as it explores the simple act of walking and the profound impact it can have on our lives. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and language.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track." This opening line sets the scene for the rest of the poem, as Bishop describes her journey along the railroad tracks from her home in New Jersey to the nearby town of Suffern. The use of the word "whenever" suggests that this is a regular occurrence for Bishop, and that walking is an important part of her daily routine.

As Bishop continues to describe her walk, she begins to explore the deeper meaning behind this seemingly mundane activity. She writes, "I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black." This image of the rundown farmhouse suggests a sense of decay and neglect, and Bishop seems to be using it as a metaphor for the impermanence of life. The broken shingles and blackened wood are a reminder that everything eventually falls apart, and that even the most solid structures are subject to decay and destruction.

Bishop then goes on to describe the natural world around her, writing, "A horsehair mattress stuffed with straw / is all I pass - that and a watery / reflection of yellow conches." This image of the horsehair mattress and the watery reflection of the conches creates a sense of stillness and tranquility, as if time has slowed down and Bishop is able to appreciate the beauty of the world around her. The use of the word "reflection" is particularly significant, as it suggests that Bishop is not just observing the world around her, but is also reflecting on her own life and experiences.

As Bishop continues her walk, she begins to explore the theme of mortality in more detail. She writes, "It's so delicious to have no destination." This line suggests that Bishop is not just walking for the sake of exercise, but is also using the act of walking as a way to escape from the pressures of everyday life. By having no destination, she is free to explore her own thoughts and feelings, and to contemplate the larger questions of life and death.

Bishop then goes on to describe the landscape around her, writing, "A barnyard and its buckboard / and the horsecart in the lane / where under the boughs of a swaying tree / blossom by blossom the spring begins." This image of the blossoming spring is a powerful symbol of renewal and rebirth, and suggests that even in the face of death and decay, there is always the possibility of new life and growth.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as Bishop describes the "black snakes" that she encounters on her walk. These snakes are a symbol of danger and death, and suggest that even in the midst of life and growth, there is always the possibility of danger and destruction. Bishop writes, "I have seen them every summer for thirty years." This line suggests that Bishop has become accustomed to the presence of these snakes, and that she has learned to accept the dangers of life as a natural part of the world around her.

The poem then ends with a powerful image of the railroad tracks themselves, as Bishop writes, "The rails clacking hollowly / all day, all night." This image of the endless clacking of the rails suggests that life is a journey that never ends, and that even in the face of death and decay, there is always the possibility of new beginnings and new adventures.

In terms of structure, the poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines. This structure creates a sense of rhythm and repetition, as if Bishop is walking along the railroad tracks and experiencing the same sights and sounds over and over again. The use of enjambment, where the lines run on from one to the next without punctuation, creates a sense of flow and movement, as if Bishop is walking along and observing the world around her in real time.

In terms of language, Bishop's use of imagery is particularly powerful. She creates vivid images of the natural world around her, from the rundown farmhouse to the blossoming spring, and uses these images to explore deeper themes of life and death. Her use of metaphor, such as the broken shingles of the farmhouse as a symbol of decay, adds an extra layer of meaning to the poem, and creates a sense of richness and depth.

In conclusion, "Little Exercise" is a masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop's poetry, exploring the simple act of walking and the profound impact it can have on our lives. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphor, Bishop creates a sense of stillness and tranquility, while also exploring deeper themes of mortality and renewal. The poem is a testament to Bishop's talent as a poet, and a reminder of the power of poetry to capture the essence of everyday life.

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