'Blackberry Eating' by Galway Kinnell
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I love to go out in late September
among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries
to eat blackberries for breakfast,
the stalks very prickly, a penalty
they earn for knowing the black art
of blackberry-making; and as I stand among them
lifting the stalks to my mouth, the ripest berries
fall almost unbidden to my tongue,
as words sometimes do, certain peculiar words
like strengths or squinched,
many-lettered, one-syllabled lumps,
which I squeeze, squinch open, and splurge well
in the silent, startled, icy, black language
of blackberry -- eating in late September.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Blackberry Eating by Galway Kinnell: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, Blackberry Eating! What a poem! Galway Kinnell's masterpiece is a feast for the senses, a celebration of nature, and a meditation on the human experience. In this 36-line poem, Kinnell explores the pleasure and pain of consuming blackberries, and the deeper meanings that this act reveals about life and death, desire and satisfaction, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.
The Poem
First, let's take a closer look at the poem itself. Here it is, in its entirety:
I love to go out in late September
among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries
to eat blackberries for breakfast,
the stalks very prickly, a penalty
they earn for knowing the black art
of blackberry-making; and as I stand among them
lifting the stalks to my mouth, the ripest berries
fall almost unbidden to my tongue,
as words sometimes do, certain peculiar words
like strengths or squinched,
many-lettered, one-syllabled lumps,
which I squeeze, squinch open, and splurge well
in the silent, startled, icy, black language
of blackberry -eating in late September.
*Galway Kinnell*
Right away, we can see that Kinnell has a way with words. He describes the blackberries as "fat," "overripe," "icy," and "black," creating a vivid sensory experience for the reader. We can almost taste the sweetness and tartness of the berries, feel the prickliness of the stalks, and hear the silence of the moment.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each containing six lines. The first two stanzas describe the act of blackberry eating, while the third and fourth stanzas delve deeper into the metaphorical meanings of the experience.
Literal Interpretation
At its most basic level, Blackberry Eating is a poem about eating blackberries. Kinnell describes the pleasure of picking the ripest berries straight from the stalks, the way they "fall almost unbidden to my tongue." He compares the act of eating berries to the act of speaking, with "peculiar words" that are "many-lettered, one-syllabled lumps." This metaphor suggests that both eating and speaking can be both satisfying and challenging. Just as some words are difficult to pronounce or understand, some berries are more difficult to pick or eat than others.
Kinnell also acknowledges the prickliness of the blackberry stalks, describing it as a "penalty" that the berries earn for their "black art" of making blackberries. This suggests that the sweetness and juiciness of the berries comes at a cost, and that the act of eating them involves a kind of negotiation with nature. The prickly stalks remind us that nature is not always easy or accommodating, and that we have to work to get what we want from it.
Metaphorical Interpretation
But Blackberry Eating is not just about eating blackberries. It is also a metaphor for the human experience, and Kinnell uses the act of eating as a way to explore deeper themes of desire, satisfaction, and mortality.
In the third stanza, Kinnell writes:
Once, in the cave of a septuagenarian
hermit, I saw his lone bed,
his belongings.
All else was lost, except for one thing:
On a rug a luminous
pool of black.
This stanza is a departure from the literal description of blackberry eating, and introduces the idea of mortality. The "septuagenarian hermit" suggests an old man who has retreated from society, choosing to live alone in the wilderness. The "lone bed" and "belongings" suggest that he has little to his name, but the "luminous pool of black" suggests that he has found some kind of satisfaction or fulfillment in his life.
The final stanza brings these themes together:
I ate the mythology I grew up with:
Hercules, Achilles, Orpheus, Leda,
Ganymede, Persephone.
I ate the tales of transformation:
Niobe turned to stone, Pygmalion to a statue,
Orion to a constellation.
Here, Kinnell suggests that the act of eating blackberries is a way of consuming and internalizing stories and myths. The names he lists are all figures from Greek mythology, suggesting that he is exploring the larger questions of human existence: love, death, transformation, and the relationship between humans and the gods.
Themes
So what are the larger themes of Blackberry Eating? Here are a few possibilities:
Desire and Satisfaction
One of the most obvious themes of the poem is desire and satisfaction. Kinnell describes the pleasure of eating blackberries, but also acknowledges the prickliness of the stalks, suggesting that satisfaction comes at a cost. This theme is echoed in the metaphorical interpretations of the poem, where Kinnell suggests that satisfaction in life comes from consuming stories and myths, but also acknowledges the inevitability of mortality.
Nature
Another theme of Blackberry Eating is the relationship between humans and nature. The prickly stalks remind us that nature is not always easy or accommodating, and that we have to work to get what we want from it. But the sweetness and juiciness of the berries suggest that nature has much to offer us, if we are willing to take the risk.
Mortality
The third stanza of the poem introduces the idea of mortality, and the final stanza explores the larger questions of human existence. Kinnell suggests that the act of eating blackberries is a way of consuming and internalizing stories and myths, suggesting that our experiences are a way of making sense of our place in the world.
Conclusion
Blackberry Eating is a remarkable poem, full of vivid sensory details, rich metaphors, and deep philosophical questions. It reminds us of the pleasures and pains of life, the beauty and harshness of nature, and the inevitability of mortality. It is a poem that can be read and enjoyed on many levels, and one that rewards close reading and interpretation. Galway Kinnell was a master of his craft, and Blackberry Eating is a testament to his skill and vision.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Blackberry Eating: A Celebration of Nature's Bounty
Galway Kinnell's poem "Blackberry Eating" is a beautiful and evocative celebration of the joys of nature and the simple pleasures of life. Through vivid imagery and sensory language, Kinnell transports the reader to a world of lush greenery and ripe, juicy blackberries, inviting us to savor the sweetness of the moment and revel in the abundance of the natural world.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's surroundings, setting the scene for the sensory feast to come. "I love to go out in late September / among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries," Kinnell writes, conjuring up a vivid image of the late summer landscape, with its plump, juicy fruit hanging heavy on the vines. The use of alliteration and repetition in this opening line creates a sense of abundance and excess, as if the blackberries are bursting with life and energy.
As the poem progresses, Kinnell delves deeper into the experience of eating blackberries, describing the physical sensations and emotional responses that arise from this simple act. "Eating blackberries, I love how the juice / stains my fingers and lips," he writes, capturing the tactile pleasure of the fruit and the way it leaves its mark on the body. The use of the word "love" here emphasizes the speaker's deep connection to the natural world and his appreciation for the small, everyday pleasures that it offers.
Throughout the poem, Kinnell uses rich, sensory language to bring the blackberries to life, describing their texture, taste, and aroma in vivid detail. "The sweet flesh / stains the tongue and lips like wine," he writes, evoking the heady, intoxicating quality of the fruit. The use of simile here creates a sense of indulgence and luxury, as if the act of eating blackberries is akin to sipping a fine vintage.
As the poem reaches its climax, Kinnell shifts his focus from the physical sensations of eating blackberries to the emotional and spiritual resonance of the experience. "I want to eat blackberries / and brush the hairs back from your forehead," he writes, addressing an unnamed companion and suggesting a sense of intimacy and connection between the two. The use of the word "want" here emphasizes the speaker's desire for this moment of closeness and the way that the act of eating blackberries becomes a catalyst for deeper emotional connection.
In the final lines of the poem, Kinnell returns to the natural world, drawing a connection between the abundance of the blackberries and the larger cycles of life and death. "Late August, given heavy rain and sun / for a full week, the blackberries would ripen," he writes, suggesting the way that the fruit is a product of the natural rhythms of the earth. The use of the word "given" here emphasizes the sense of gratitude and wonder that the speaker feels towards the natural world, recognizing that the abundance of the blackberries is a gift to be cherished and celebrated.
Overall, "Blackberry Eating" is a beautiful and evocative poem that celebrates the joys of nature and the simple pleasures of life. Through vivid imagery and sensory language, Kinnell invites the reader to savor the sweetness of the moment and revel in the abundance of the natural world. Whether we are eating blackberries or simply taking a walk in the woods, this poem reminds us to slow down, appreciate the beauty around us, and find joy in the small things.
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