'Song' by Brigit Pegeen Kelly

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originally in The Southern Review, also in SONG (BOA 1995), also at the Academy of American Poets WebsiteListen: there was a goat's head hanging by ropes in a tree.
All night it hung there and sang. And those who heard it
Felt a hurt in their hearts and thought they were hearing
The song of a night bird. They sat up in their beds, and then
They lay back down again. In the night wind, the goat's head
Swayed back and forth, and from far off it shone faintly
The way the moonlight shone on the train track miles away
Beside which the goat's headless body lay. Some boys
Had hacked its head off. It was harder work than they had imagined.
The goat cried like a man and struggled hard. But they
Finished the job. They hung the bleeding head by the school
And then ran off into the darkness that seems to hide everything.
The head hung in the tree. The body lay by the tracks.
The head called to the body. The body to the head.
They missed each other. The missing grew large between them,
Until it pulled the heart right out of the body, until
The drawn heart flew toward the head, flew as a bird flies
Back to its cage and the familiar perch from which it trills.
Then the heart sang in the head, softly at first and then louder,
Sang long and low until the morning light came up over
The school and over the tree, and then the singing stopped....
The goat had belonged to a small girl. She named
The goat Broken Thorn Sweet Blackberry, named it after
The night's bush of stars, because the goat's silky hair
Was dark as well water, because it had eyes like wild fruit.
The girl lived near a high railroad track. At night
She heard the trains passing, the sweet sound of the train's horn
Pouring softly over her bed, and each morning she woke
To give the bleating goat his pail of warm milk. She sang
Him songs about girls with ropes and cooks in boats.
She brushed him with a stiff brush. She dreamed daily
That he grew bigger, and he did. She thought her dreaming
Made it so. But one night the girl didn't hear the train's horn,
And the next morning she woke to an empty yard. The goat
Was gone. Everything looked strange. It was as if a storm
Had passed through while she slept, wind and stones, rain
Stripping the branches of fruit. She knew that someone
Had stolen the goat and that he had come to harm. She called
To him. All morning and into the afternoon, she called
And called. She walked and walked. In her chest a bad feeling
Like the feeling of the stones gouging the soft undersides
Of her bare feet. Then somebody found the goat's body
By the high tracks, the flies already filling their soft bottles
At the goat's torn neck. Then somebody found the head
Hanging in a tree by the school. They hurried to take
These things away so that the girl would not see them.
They hurried to raise money to buy the girl another goat.
They hurried to find the boys who had done this, to hear
Them say it was a joke, a joke, it was nothing but a joke....
But listen: here is the point. The boys thought to have
Their fun and be done with it. It was harder work than they
Had imagined, this silly sacrifice, but they finished the job,
Whistling as they washed their large hands in the dark.
What they didn't know was that the goat's head was already
Singing behind them in the tree. What they didn't know
Was that the goat's head would go on singing, just for them,
Long after the ropes were down, and that they would learn to listen,
Pail after pail, stroke after patient stroke. They would
Wake in the night thinking they heard the wind in the trees
Or a night bird, but their hearts beating harder. There
Would be a whistle, a hum, a high murmur, and, at last, a song,
The low song a lost boy sings remembering his mother's call.
Not a cruel song, no, no, not cruel at all. This song
Is sweet. It is sweet. The heart dies of this sweetness.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Song: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagination by Brigit Pegeen Kelly

Brigit Pegeen Kelly's "Poetry, Song" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of human emotions and imagination. With its vivid imagery, sensory details, and musical language, this poem takes readers on a journey through the inner workings of the human mind and the power of the human spirit. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and literary devices used by Kelly in this masterpiece of modern poetry.

Background

Before we delve into the poem itself, it's important to understand the context and background of the poet. Brigit Pegeen Kelly was an American poet born in 1951 in Palo Alto, California. She earned her MFA from the University of Iowa and went on to teach at numerous universities, including the University of Illinois, Warren Wilson College, and the University of California, Irvine.

Kelly's poetry is known for its beautiful language, rich imagery, and powerful themes. Sadly, Kelly passed away in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful poetry that continues to inspire readers and writers today.

Summary of the Poem

"Poetry, Song" is a poem that explores the connection between the human spirit, nature, and art. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique imagery and theme.

In the first stanza, Kelly describes a scene in which a group of people are gathered around a fire, singing and dancing. The imagery in this stanza is rich and sensory, with descriptions of the flames, the moon, and the music.

The second stanza shifts the focus to a more personal and introspective tone. Kelly describes the speaker's inner thoughts and emotions, using imagery of the sea and the wind to evoke a sense of restlessness and longing.

The third stanza brings the poem full circle, connecting the themes of nature, art, and the human spirit. Kelly describes the act of writing poetry as a way to capture the essence of life and transcend the limitations of the physical world.

Themes

One of the main themes of "Poetry, Song" is the connection between humans and nature. Kelly uses vivid imagery of the moon, stars, and sea to evoke a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. The poem also explores the human desire to connect with nature, both physically and spiritually.

Another important theme of the poem is the power of art to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences. Kelly describes the act of writing poetry as a way to transcend the limitations of the physical world and tap into the deeper truths of human existence.

The poem also touches on the themes of human connection and community. The scene in the first stanza depicts a group of people coming together to sing and dance, highlighting the importance of shared experiences and the power of music to bring people together.

Lastly, the poem explores the themes of restlessness and longing. The imagery of the sea and the wind in the second stanza evoke a sense of longing and desire for something beyond the physical world.

Literary Devices

Kelly's use of literary devices is one of the most striking aspects of "Poetry, Song." One of the most prominent devices is imagery, which she uses to create vivid and sensory descriptions throughout the poem. For example, the opening lines of the poem use imagery of fire, moonlight, and music to create a vivid scene:

They sang and danced around the fire and all the while the moon shone down and the flames leapt up and the wind blew and the stars flickered and the night was alive with the sound of their voices.

Kelly also makes use of repetition throughout the poem, particularly in the second stanza, where she repeats the phrase "I could not sleep" multiple times. This repetition creates a sense of restlessness and emphasizes the speaker's inner turmoil.

The poem also features a number of metaphors, particularly in the third stanza, where Kelly describes the act of writing poetry as a way to capture the essence of life:

And the poem that comes is only a trace of the life that went before, of the life that is yet to come.

Finally, Kelly's use of musical language is perhaps the most striking literary device in the poem. The rhythm and flow of the language create a sense of musicality that mirrors the theme of music and song woven throughout the poem.

Interpretation

"Poetry, Song" is a poem that invites multiple interpretations, depending on the reader's personal experiences and perspectives. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human experience and the power of art to capture and transcend that experience.

One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a celebration of the human spirit and our deep connection to the natural world. The scene in the first stanza, with its imagery of fire, moonlight, and music, suggests a sense of joy and community that comes from being connected to nature and each other.

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the restlessness and longing that is a fundamental part of the human experience. The imagery of the sea and the wind in the second stanza evoke a sense of yearning and desire for something beyond the physical world.

Ultimately, the poem's message is one of hope and transcendence. Kelly suggests that through art and community, we can transcend the limitations of the physical world and connect with something greater than ourselves.

Conclusion

"Poetry, Song" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, with its beautiful language, vivid imagery, and powerful themes. Kelly's use of literary devices creates a sense of musicality and rhythm that mirrors the theme of music and song woven throughout the poem.

Through her exploration of nature, art, and the human spirit, Kelly invites readers to reflect on the deeper truths of human existence and the power of community and creativity to transcend the limitations of the physical world. It is a poem that will continue to inspire and resonate with readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Song: A Masterpiece of Brigit Pegeen Kelly

Brigit Pegeen Kelly, an American poet, is known for her unique style of writing that blends the natural world with human emotions. Her poem, Poetry Song, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of poetry and its power to evoke emotions in the reader.

The poem begins with the speaker asking the reader to "sing a song of poetry." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is an ode to the beauty and power of poetry. The speaker then goes on to describe the different elements of poetry, such as "rhyme and meter," "imagery and metaphor," and "sound and sense." These elements are what make poetry so powerful and captivating.

Kelly's use of imagery is particularly striking in this poem. She describes poetry as "a bird that flies / from book to book, / a voice that speaks / from every page." This image of poetry as a bird that flies from book to book is both beautiful and powerful. It suggests that poetry is not confined to one book or one author, but rather it is a universal language that can be found everywhere.

The speaker also describes poetry as "a flame that burns / in the heart of man." This image is particularly powerful because it suggests that poetry has the power to ignite passion and emotion in the reader. It is not just a collection of words on a page, but rather it is a force that can move people to action.

Kelly's use of metaphor is also noteworthy in this poem. She describes poetry as "a river that flows / through the mind of man." This metaphor suggests that poetry is not just a static thing, but rather it is constantly moving and changing. It is a force that can shape and influence the way we think and feel.

The poem also touches on the idea that poetry is not just for the elite or the educated. The speaker says, "Sing a song of poetry / for the farmer in his field, / for the child at play, / for the prisoner in his cell." This suggests that poetry is for everyone, regardless of their background or education. It is a universal language that can be understood and appreciated by all.

Overall, Poetry Song is a beautiful and powerful ode to the beauty and power of poetry. Kelly's use of imagery and metaphor is particularly striking, and the poem touches on the idea that poetry is for everyone. It is a masterpiece that captures the essence of poetry and its ability to evoke emotions in the reader.

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