'Elizabeth' by Michael Ondaatje

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1967Catch, my Uncle Jack said
and oh I caught this huge apple
red as Mrs Kelly's bum.
It's red as Mrs Kelly's bum, I said
and Daddy roared
and swung me on his stomach with a heave.
Then I hid the apple in my room
till it shrunk like a face
growing eyes and teeth ribs.Then Daddy took me to the zoo
he knew the man there
they put a snake around my neck
and it crawled down the front of my dress
I felt its flicking tongue
dripping onto me like a shower.
Daddy laughed and said Smart Snake
and Mrs Kelly with us scowled.In the pond where they kept the goldfish
Philip and I broke the ice with spades
and tried to spear the fishes;
we killed one and Philip ate it,
then he kissed me
with the raw saltless fish in his mouth.My sister Mary's got bad teeth
and said I was lucky, hen she said
I had big teeth, but Philip said I was pretty.
He had big hands that smelled.I would speak of Tom', soft laughing,
who danced in the mornings round the sundial
teaching me the steps of France, turning
with the rhythm of the sun on the warped branches,
who'd hold my breast and watch it move like a snail
leaving his quick urgent love in my palm.
And I kept his love in my palm till it blistered.When they axed his shoulders and neck
the blood moved like a branch into the crowd.
And he staggered with his hanging shoulder
cursing their thrilled cry, wheeling,
waltzing in the French style to his knees
holding his head with the ground,
blood settling on his clothes like a blush;
this way
when they aimed the thud into his back.And I find cool entertainment now
with white young Essex, and my nimble rhymes.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Interpretation and Criticism of Michael Ondaatje's "Elizabeth"

Michael Ondaatje's "Elizabeth" is a rich and complex poem that explores themes of time, memory, identity, and illusion. The poem takes the form of a series of vignettes that depict the life of a woman named Elizabeth, from her childhood to old age. Ondaatje's writing style is characterized by its vivid imagery, lyrical language, and fragmented structure, which all contribute to the poem's overall sense of mystery and ambiguity.

One of the most striking aspects of "Elizabeth" is the way in which Ondaatje uses language to create a sense of timelessness. The poem is full of images that evoke a sense of the past, such as "old photographs," "faded maps," and "dusty roads." These images are often juxtaposed with more contemporary references, such as "mobile phones" and "the internet," which serve to create a sense of disorientation and confusion. This sense of timelessness is further emphasized by the way in which Ondaatje uses language to create a sense of motion and fluidity. The poem is full of images of movement and change, such as "the tide racing in," "the wind pushing against the windows," and "the flicker of light on water." These images help to create a sense that time is constantly in motion, and that the past and present are always in flux.

Another key theme in "Elizabeth" is memory and the ways in which it shapes identity. Throughout the poem, Ondaatje explores the idea that memory is not a fixed and objective record of the past, but rather a constantly shifting and subjective experience. He writes, "Memory is a patchwork quilt / Of the past sewn loosely together." This image of memory as a patchwork quilt suggests that our memories are made up of fragments and pieces that we stitch together in order to create a coherent narrative. However, this narrative is always subject to change and revision as we continue to experience new things and gain new perspectives on the past.

One of the most intriguing aspects of "Elizabeth" is the way in which Ondaatje uses language to create a sense of illusion and unreality. The poem is full of images that are dreamlike and surreal, such as "the moon hanging in the branches of a tree," "the sky's kaleidoscope of colour," and "the light skipping across the water." These images create a sense of otherworldliness and magic that serves to blur the distinction between reality and imagination. This sense of illusion is further emphasized by the way in which Ondaatje uses language to create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The poem is full of lines that are open to multiple interpretations and that leave the reader questioning what is real and what is not.

One of the most powerful moments in "Elizabeth" comes towards the end of the poem, when Ondaatje writes, "And then we are finally blessed / With forgetfulness." This line suggests that forgetfulness is a blessing, a release from the burden of memory and the weight of the past. However, it also raises the question of what is lost when we forget, and whether there is something valuable in holding onto our memories, even when they are painful or difficult.

In conclusion, "Elizabeth" is a rich and complex poem that explores a wide range of themes and ideas. Through its vivid imagery, lyrical language, and fragmented structure, the poem creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity that invites the reader to question their own assumptions about time, memory, identity, and reality. Ondaatje's writing style is both dreamlike and grounded in reality, creating a sense of illusion and uncertainty that is both captivating and unsettling. Overall, "Elizabeth" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that invites the reader to explore the boundaries of their own imagination and their relationship to the past.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth is a classic poem written by Michael Ondaatje, a Sri Lankan-Canadian poet, novelist, and essayist. This poem is a beautiful tribute to Elizabeth Smart, a Canadian poet and novelist, and the love that Ondaatje had for her. It is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful, and it captures the essence of love and longing in a way that is both powerful and moving.

The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of love and longing. The first part of the poem is titled "The Cinnamon Peeler," and it is a beautiful exploration of the power of love and desire. In this section, Ondaatje describes the cinnamon peeler, a man who is so consumed by his love for his wife that he spends his days peeling cinnamon bark to create a scent that will remind him of her. The cinnamon peeler is a symbol of the power of love and the lengths that people will go to in order to express their love and desire for another person.

The second part of the poem is titled "The Poet," and it is a beautiful exploration of the power of language and the way that words can be used to express love and longing. In this section, Ondaatje describes the poet, who is so consumed by his love for Elizabeth that he spends his days writing poetry about her. The poet is a symbol of the power of language and the way that words can be used to express the deepest emotions and feelings.

The third part of the poem is titled "Elizabeth," and it is a beautiful tribute to Elizabeth Smart, the Canadian poet and novelist who was the object of Ondaatje's love and desire. In this section, Ondaatje describes Elizabeth as a woman who is both beautiful and mysterious, and he expresses his love and longing for her in a way that is both powerful and moving. Elizabeth is a symbol of the power of love and the way that it can transform and inspire people.

One of the things that makes Elizabeth such a powerful and moving poem is the way that it explores the different aspects of love and longing. Ondaatje uses the cinnamon peeler, the poet, and Elizabeth as symbols to explore the different ways that people express their love and desire for another person. The cinnamon peeler represents the physical aspect of love, the poet represents the emotional aspect of love, and Elizabeth represents the spiritual aspect of love.

Another thing that makes Elizabeth such a powerful and moving poem is the way that it uses language to express the deepest emotions and feelings. Ondaatje's use of language is both beautiful and haunting, and it captures the essence of love and longing in a way that is both powerful and moving. His use of imagery and metaphor is particularly effective, and it helps to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem.

Overall, Elizabeth is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the different aspects of love and longing in a way that is both moving and profound. Ondaatje's use of language and imagery is particularly effective, and it helps to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem. If you are a fan of poetry, then Elizabeth is definitely a poem that you should read. It is a beautiful tribute to love and desire, and it captures the essence of these emotions in a way that is both powerful and moving.

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