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'The Beautiful Changes' by Richard Wilbur


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The Beautiful Changes1947One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sidesThe Queen Anne's Lace lying like lilies
On water; it glides
So from the walker, it turnsDry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade ofyou
Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes.The beautiful changes as a forest is changedBy a chameleon's tuning his skin to it;
As a mantis, arranged
On a green leaf, grows
Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves
Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows.Your hands hold roses always in a way thatsays
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes
In such kind ways,
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things' selves for a second finding,to lose
For a moment all that it touches back towonder.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Beautiful Changes by Richard Wilbur: A Masterful Exploration of Metaphysics and the Human Experience

The Beautiful Changes is a poem that has stood the test of time. Written by Richard Wilbur, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, this work is a masterpiece that explores the nature of beauty, change, and the human experience. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into the themes and techniques used by Wilbur in The Beautiful Changes and try to understand the true depth of this timeless work.

The Themes of The Beautiful Changes

At its core, The Beautiful Changes is about the fleeting nature of beauty and how it is intertwined with the human experience. Wilbur explores this theme through a series of vivid and evocative images that capture the beauty of nature and the world around us. From the "fireflies in a darkening meadow" to the "redwing circling in white sky," Wilbur's descriptions are both precise and poetic, creating a vivid and memorable portrait of the natural world.

But Wilbur does not stop at simply describing the beauty of nature. He also explores the idea of change and how it affects our perception of beauty. In the second stanza, he writes:

This is the world, just fallen, 
And this is the queer time.

Here, Wilbur is acknowledging that beauty is fleeting, and that the world is constantly changing. He goes on to describe how the world is "newly fallen," suggesting that it is in a state of transition, and that the beauty we see is not necessarily permanent.

Finally, Wilbur explores the idea of metaphysics in The Beautiful Changes. In the final stanza, he writes:

This is the ultimate grace, 
To be a contest for the sky 
And an angel's desire.

Here, Wilbur is suggesting that there is something divine and transcendent about beauty. He is suggesting that beauty is not simply a physical phenomenon, but a spiritual one as well. By using the image of angels and the sky, he is hinting at a greater spiritual reality that exists beyond our physical world.

The Techniques Used in The Beautiful Changes

One of the most striking things about The Beautiful Changes is the way that Wilbur uses language to create a vivid and evocative portrait of the natural world. He uses a variety of techniques to achieve this, including:

Vivid Imagery

Wilbur's use of vivid imagery is one of the most memorable aspects of The Beautiful Changes. He uses a range of sensory descriptions to create a portrait of the natural world that is both precise and poetic. Just consider this passage:

And the mower's long shadow 
Tapers and fades on the lawn, 
Receiving, as if reluctantly, 
In the straightness of his stride, 
The homing of a hawk,

Here, Wilbur is using language to create an image of a summer afternoon, complete with the long shadows of the trees and the sound of a hawk circling overhead. This kind of vivid imagery is a hallmark of Wilbur's style, and it is what makes The Beautiful Changes such a memorable work.

Metaphorical Language

Wilbur also uses metaphorical language to explore the themes of The Beautiful Changes. One of the most striking examples of this is in the final stanza, where he writes:

To be a contest for the sky 
And an angel's desire.

Here, Wilbur is using the image of angels and the sky to suggest a transcendent spiritual reality that exists beyond our physical world. This kind of metaphorical language is what gives The Beautiful Changes its depth and resonance.

Formal Structure

Finally, it is worth noting the formal structure of The Beautiful Changes. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a formal and musical quality. This formal structure is appropriate for a poem that is exploring such weighty themes, and it helps to give the work a sense of gravitas and importance.

The Significance of The Beautiful Changes

So what is the significance of The Beautiful Changes? Why has it endured as one of the great works of 20th-century poetry? I would argue that the significance of this work lies in its exploration of the human experience. By using the beauty of nature as a lens through which to examine the human condition, Wilbur is able to capture something essential about what it means to be human.

In the end, The Beautiful Changes is a work that reminds us of the fleeting nature of beauty and the importance of cherishing it while we can. It is a work that reminds us that there is something transcendent and spiritual about beauty, and that it is our duty as human beings to recognize and honor that beauty whenever we encounter it.

In conclusion, The Beautiful Changes is a masterful work that explores the nature of beauty, change, and the human experience. Through its vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and formal structure, Richard Wilbur has created a work that is both beautiful and profound, and that continues to inspire readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "The Beautiful Changes" by Richard Wilbur. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of change and the beauty that comes with it. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line, "One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides / The Queen Anne's Lace lying like lilies / On water; it glides / So from the walker, it turns / Dry grass to a lake." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The imagery of the Queen Anne's Lace lying like lilies on water is a beautiful metaphor for the changes that are about to take place. The dry grass turning into a lake is a symbol of transformation and the beauty that comes with it.

The second stanza continues with the theme of change. "A field of summer grass swayed to the breath / Of passing air; / A stranger heard it, / And from under the far sky / Did weep to come again." This stanza is a reminder that change is inevitable, and we must embrace it. The stranger weeping to come again is a metaphor for the desire to relive the past. However, the poem suggests that we should not dwell on the past but instead embrace the changes that come our way.

The third stanza is a continuation of the second stanza. "The round wind / In a low voice / By the tangled boughs of an old apple tree / Breathed words of love / And the nightingale / Sang them, as now, with the help of the dew, / Weeping." This stanza is a beautiful example of personification. The wind and the apple tree are given human-like qualities, and the nightingale is personified as singing words of love. The weeping nightingale is a metaphor for the beauty and sadness that comes with change.

The fourth stanza is a turning point in the poem. "The beautiful changes / In such kind ways, / Wishing ever to sunder / Things and things' selves for a second finding, to lose / For a moment all that it touches back to wonder." This stanza is the heart of the poem. The beautiful changes are described as wishing to sunder things and things' selves for a second finding. This line is a metaphor for the beauty of change and how it can transform us. The line "to lose / For a moment all that it touches back to wonder" is a reminder that we should not take things for granted and should always be in awe of the world around us.

The fifth stanza is a continuation of the fourth stanza. "Sudden in a shaft of sunlight / Even while the dust moves / There rises the hidden laughter / Of children in the foliage / Quick now, here, now, always— / Ridiculous the waste sad time / Stretching before and after." This stanza is a beautiful example of imagery. The hidden laughter of children in the foliage is a metaphor for the joy that comes with change. The line "Quick now, here, now, always" is a reminder that change is constant and we should always be ready to embrace it.

The sixth and final stanza is a conclusion to the poem. "Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me; / Taking me back down the vista of years, till I see / A child sitting under the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings / And pressing the small, poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings." This stanza is a beautiful example of nostalgia. The woman singing to the speaker takes him back down the vista of years, and he sees a child sitting under the piano. This is a metaphor for the speaker's desire to relive the past. However, the poem suggests that we should not dwell on the past but instead embrace the changes that come our way.

In conclusion, "The Beautiful Changes" by Richard Wilbur is a masterpiece that captures the essence of change and the beauty that comes with it. The poem is a reminder that change is constant and we should always be ready to embrace it. The use of metaphors, personification, and imagery makes the poem a beautiful piece of art. The poem's message is timeless and will continue to inspire generations to come.

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