'Poetry Is A Kind Of Lying' by Jack Gilbert
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Monolithos1962Poetry is a kind of lying,
necessarily. To profit the poet
or beauty. But also in
that truth may be told only so.Those who, admirably, refuse
to falsify (as those who will not
risk pretensions) are excluded
from saying even so much.Degas said he didn't paint
what he saw, but what
would enable them to see
the thing he had.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Is A Kind Of Lying: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh my, where do I even begin with Jack Gilbert's "Poetry Is A Kind Of Lying"? This poem is such a complex and beautifully written piece of literature that it's hard to put into words just how much it moved me. But I'll do my best to break it down and give you my interpretation and criticism of it.
Structure and Form
Let's start with the structure and form of the poem. Gilbert uses free verse, which means there is no set meter or rhyme scheme. Instead, he relies on the power of his words and the imagery he creates to convey his message. And boy, does he succeed.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given the theme of the poem. Gilbert is exploring the idea of what poetry is and what it can do, and the structure of the poem reflects this exploration.
The Title
The title of the poem, "Poetry Is A Kind Of Lying," is intriguing and thought-provoking. At first glance, it might seem like Gilbert is saying that poetry is dishonest, that it's a way of deceiving people. But as we read the poem, we realize that he's actually saying something much more profound.
The First Stanza
In the first stanza, Gilbert writes:
Poetry is a kind of lying,
necessarily.
To profit the poet or
beauty.
Right away, we see that Gilbert is not talking about lying in the traditional sense. He's saying that poetry is a way of bending the truth, of creating something that is not quite real. But he goes on to say that this "lying" is necessary in order to "profit the poet or / beauty."
What does he mean by this? Well, I think he's saying that poetry is a way of bringing beauty into the world, of creating something that is not necessarily true but is still meaningful and valuable. And in order to do this, the poet has to be willing to stretch the truth a little bit, to take some liberties with reality.
The Second Stanza
In the second stanza, Gilbert continues:
The light is like a spider.
It crawls over the water.
It crawls over the edges of the snow.
It crawls under your eyelids
Here, Gilbert is using vivid imagery to show us what he means by "lying." He's saying that poetry is a way of seeing the world in a different light, of finding beauty in unexpected places. The image of the spider crawling over the water and the snow is particularly striking, as it shows us how even something as small and seemingly insignificant as a spider can be beautiful if we look at it in the right way.
And then there's the final line, "It crawls under your eyelids." This is a powerful image that suggests that the beauty we find in poetry is not just out there in the world, but inside ourselves. When we read a poem that moves us, it becomes a part of us, and we carry it with us wherever we go.
The Third Stanza
Finally, in the third stanza, Gilbert writes:
Is a kind of traveling,
a kind of ownership you can't have
of brightness. The sunlight
squanders itself and yet no shadow is born.
This stanza is perhaps the most difficult to interpret, but I think it's also the most profound. Gilbert is saying that poetry is a kind of traveling, a way of exploring the world and seeing things in a new way. But he's also saying that this kind of traveling is different from the kind that we're used to. It's not about owning something or controlling it. It's about experiencing it and letting it change us.
And then there's the final line, "The sunlight / squanders itself and yet no shadow is born." This is a beautiful image that suggests that even when we "waste" our time on something beautiful like poetry, we are not really wasting anything at all. We are simply enjoying the beauty of the world, and that is enough.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think "Poetry Is A Kind Of Lying" is a truly beautiful and thought-provoking poem that deserves to be read and studied. Gilbert's use of vivid imagery and his exploration of the nature of poetry are both masterful, and the poem as a whole is a testament to the power of language and the human spirit.
So if you haven't read this poem yet, go do it now. And then read it again. And then read it one more time. Trust me, it's worth it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a Kind of Lying: An Analysis of Jack Gilbert's Classic Poem
Poetry is a kind of lying, according to Jack Gilbert, the celebrated American poet. This statement may seem paradoxical at first, but upon closer examination, it reveals the essence of poetry as an art form. In this article, we will delve into Gilbert's poem, "Poetry is a Kind of Lying," and explore its meaning, themes, and significance.
The poem begins with a bold assertion: "Poetry is a kind of lying." This statement challenges the conventional notion of truth and honesty, which are often associated with poetry. However, Gilbert does not mean that poetry is deceitful or manipulative. Instead, he suggests that poetry is a form of art that transcends the limitations of factual truth. Poetry, in Gilbert's view, is a way of expressing the emotional truth that cannot be conveyed through facts and figures.
Gilbert goes on to explain that poetry is a "way of telling the truth in a way that is not factual." This statement highlights the paradoxical nature of poetry, which is both truthful and untruthful at the same time. Poetry is not bound by the constraints of reality, and it can create its own truth through the power of imagination and language. Gilbert argues that poetry is a way of "telling the truth slant," as Emily Dickinson famously put it. Poetry reveals the truth through a distorted lens, which allows us to see the world in a new and profound way.
The poem also explores the relationship between poetry and reality. Gilbert suggests that poetry is a way of "making things up," which implies that poetry is a form of escapism. However, he also acknowledges that poetry is rooted in reality, and that it can reveal the hidden truths of the world. Poetry is not a way of escaping reality, but rather a way of engaging with it on a deeper level. Gilbert argues that poetry is a way of "seeing the world as it is," which means that poetry can reveal the beauty and complexity of the world that we often overlook.
The poem also touches upon the role of the poet in society. Gilbert suggests that the poet is a "liar who always speaks the truth." This statement highlights the paradoxical nature of the poet's role, which is to reveal the truth through a distorted lens. The poet is not a mere entertainer or storyteller, but rather a truth-seeker who uses language to reveal the hidden truths of the world. The poet's role is to challenge the conventional notions of truth and reality, and to reveal the beauty and complexity of the world through the power of language.
The poem also explores the relationship between poetry and language. Gilbert suggests that poetry is a way of "using words to say what is unsayable." This statement highlights the power of language to transcend the limitations of reality. Language is not just a tool for communication, but also a way of expressing the ineffable and the sublime. Poetry uses language to create a new reality, which allows us to see the world in a new and profound way.
In conclusion, "Poetry is a Kind of Lying" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that challenges the conventional notions of truth and reality. Gilbert suggests that poetry is a way of expressing the emotional truth that cannot be conveyed through facts and figures. Poetry is a way of "telling the truth slant," which allows us to see the world in a new and profound way. The poem also explores the relationship between poetry and reality, language, and the role of the poet in society. Gilbert's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to reveal the hidden truths of the world and to transcend the limitations of reality.
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