'By These Waters' by Frank Bidart
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In the Western NightWhat begins in recognition,-
.... ends in obedience.The boys who lie back, or stand up,
allowing the flies to be unzipped
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, By These Waters: An Exploration of Frank Bidart's Poetry
Frank Bidart is a prominent American poet, known for his haunting and visceral works that explore the darkest corners of the human psyche. His collection "Poetry, By These Waters" is no exception, delving deep into themes of love, loss, mortality, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes, imagery, and techniques used by Bidart in this seminal work.
The Poetics of Loss and Longing
Poetry, By These Waters is a collection that is marked by a sense of longing and loss. Bidart's poetry is steeped in a sense of nostalgia for a time or a moment that is now gone, and which can never be recovered. This theme is evident from the very first poem, "The Second Hour of the Night," in which the speaker laments the loss of a lover:
And now that I can never have you, I want you more than ever.
The repetition of the phrase "never have you" highlights the speaker's sense of despair and the finality of the loss. The poem is an elegy, a lament for something that is irretrievably lost. Bidart's language is simple and direct, yet it conveys a profound sense of sadness and longing.
This theme of loss and longing recurs throughout the collection. In "The Desire to Be a Man," the speaker longs for the kind of masculinity that he believes will make him whole:
The only gift the god of sex offered me was the desire to be a man.
Here, Bidart explores the notion of masculinity as a kind of ideal that is unattainable. The speaker's desire to be a man is not just about gender identity, but about a longing for a kind of wholeness that is always just out of reach. This sense of longing is also evident in "The Third Hour of the Night," in which the speaker reflects on the passage of time:
And what now? The silence that returns as the echo leaves is all we have.
The repetition of the word "now" emphasizes the speaker's sense of uncertainty and the transient nature of human experience. Bidart's poetry is a meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss.
The Body as Metaphor
Bidart's poetry is also marked by a preoccupation with the body, which he uses as a metaphor for the human condition. In "The Fourth Hour of the Night," the speaker reflects on the nature of the body:
The body is a vial containing a single drop of blood.
The image of the body as a vial emphasizes its fragility and the transience of life. The blood within the vial is a symbol of life itself, which is always in danger of being spilled or lost. Bidart uses the body as a metaphor for the human condition, emphasizing the vulnerability and mortality that are inherent in our existence.
This theme of the body as metaphor is also evident in "The Fifth Hour of the Night," in which the speaker reflects on the nature of desire:
desire is only the body wanting what it can never have.
Here, the body is again used as a metaphor for the human condition, emphasizing the ways in which our desires and longings are often frustrated by the limitations of our physical existence. The body is both a source of pleasure and a source of pain, a vessel for our desires and a reminder of our mortality.
The Search for Meaning
At its core, Poetry, By These Waters is a meditation on the search for meaning in a chaotic and often cruel world. In "The Sixth Hour of the Night," the speaker reflects on the nature of reality:
Only from a distance can anything be understood.
This line emphasizes the speaker's sense of distance from the world, and his struggle to make sense of his existence. The poem is a meditation on the limits of human knowledge, and the ways in which our perceptions of reality are always filtered through our own subjectivity.
This theme of the search for meaning is also evident in "The Seventh Hour of the Night," in which the speaker reflects on the nature of love:
Love is the way we search for what we've lost.
Here, Bidart explores the idea that love is a way of filling the gap left by loss and longing. The poem is a meditation on the ways in which our desire for connection and meaning can lead us to seek out others who share our sense of loss. Bidart's poetry is a reminder that the search for meaning is an ongoing process, and that we must constantly strive to find meaning in a world that can seem cruel and indifferent.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Poetry, By These Waters is a powerful and haunting collection of poetry that explores the deepest recesses of the human psyche. Bidart's poetry is marked by a sense of loss and longing, a preoccupation with the body as metaphor, and a search for meaning in a chaotic and often cruel world. His language is simple and direct, yet it conveys a profound sense of sadness and longing. This collection is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human experience, and to offer us a glimpse into the mysteries of the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry By These Waters: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Frank Bidart's Poetry By These Waters is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the complexities of human emotions and relationships. The poem is a journey through the speaker's memories and experiences, as he reflects on his past and present relationships with his lover, his father, and his own self. The poem is a powerful exploration of the human psyche, and the ways in which our experiences shape who we are.
The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on his relationship with his lover, and the ways in which their love has changed over time. He describes how they used to be "two bodies, one soul," but now they are "two souls, one body." This shift in their relationship is a reflection of the changes that have occurred in their lives, and the ways in which they have grown and evolved as individuals.
The speaker then turns his attention to his relationship with his father, and the ways in which his father's absence has affected him. He describes how he has always felt a sense of longing for his father, and how this longing has shaped his own identity. He reflects on the ways in which his father's absence has made him feel incomplete, and how he has struggled to fill this void in his life.
As the poem progresses, the speaker delves deeper into his own psyche, exploring the ways in which his own experiences have shaped him. He reflects on his own struggles with addiction, and the ways in which this addiction has affected his relationships with others. He describes how his addiction has made him feel isolated and alone, and how he has struggled to find a sense of connection with others.
Throughout the poem, Bidart uses powerful imagery and language to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. He describes the "dark waters" of the speaker's psyche, and the ways in which these waters have shaped his life. He uses metaphors and similes to describe the speaker's emotions, comparing them to "a bird with a broken wing" or "a ship lost at sea."
One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is the way in which Bidart explores the complexities of human relationships. He shows how our relationships with others can shape who we are, and how they can help us to grow and evolve as individuals. He also shows how our relationships can be fraught with tension and conflict, and how they can sometimes lead us down destructive paths.
Overall, Poetry By These Waters is a powerful exploration of the human psyche, and the ways in which our experiences shape who we are. Bidart's use of language and imagery is masterful, and his exploration of human relationships is both insightful and thought-provoking. This poem is a must-read for anyone interested in modern poetry, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
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