'The Crying Room' by Lee Upton
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The church had a crying room-
up at the opposite side of the altar.
Good for the baby.
It was glass on all sides like a tank.
A microphone brought in the priest’s voice.
From the crying room we could see
how things happened backstage:
someone coming to the priest
with a bell and a napkin.
We weren’t soundproof.
Every time the baby cried
a pewful turned to us.
But then, after a point,
the parishioners were almost used to
the intermittent little shrieks,
the baby wanting down,
wanting up.
This was in a town
with the sea just a block away
and remarkable sea winds,
winds to lift, to accost, to warn.
I was holding the crying baby
behind the glass doors.
I could look out at the parishioners
who had gone to the trouble
to make a place for the smallest
throats among them,
even though they were used
to being pushed by invisible forces.
They were right to put distractions
ahead of them in glass
as if to preserve and in
preserving to distort,
and yet not fail to see
exactly who made trouble for them.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Crying Room: A Literary Masterpiece
Have you ever read a poem that leaves you with a lingering emotion and a deep sense of understanding? That is precisely what Lee Upton's "The Crying Room" does. This poem takes the reader on a journey of emotions, from sorrow to hope, and leaves them in a state of contemplation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will dive deep into the various themes and literary devices used in "The Crying Room" and discover why it is a literary masterpiece.
Background Information
Before we dive deep into the poem, let us first understand a bit about the author. Lee Upton is an American author and poet who has published numerous books of poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The Atlantic, and other prestigious publications. She is also the recipient of many awards, including the Pushcart Prize and the National Poetry Series award.
"The Crying Room" was first published in Upton's poetry collection titled "Civilian Histories" in 2000. The poem has since been anthologized in many literary collections and is considered one of Upton's most popular works.
Themes
The cry room, used as a space in a church where parents can take their crying children away from the service, is used as a metaphor throughout the poem. The cry room represents a place of comfort, reflection, and release.
Grief and Loss
One of the central themes of "The Crying Room" is grief and loss. The poem deals with the pain of losing someone close and the struggle to come to terms with that loss. The poem describes a woman who has lost her husband and is seeking refuge in the cry room. She is consumed by grief, and the cry room becomes a space where she can let out her emotions and mourn her loss.
The cry room represents a safe haven where the woman can express her pain and cry. It is a space where she can be vulnerable and allow herself to feel the full extent of her emotions. The cry room is a metaphor for the process of grief and the importance of finding a healthy outlet to express it.
Hope and Healing
While the poem deals with the pain of loss, it also offers a message of hope and healing. The woman in the poem finds comfort in the cry room and is eventually able to move forward. She finds solace in the fact that her husband is still with her in spirit and that he will always be a part of her life.
The cry room represents a space of healing and acceptance. It is a space where the woman can come to terms with her loss and find hope for the future. The poem offers a message of resilience and reminds the reader that it is possible to heal from even the most painful experiences.
Religion
Religion is another theme that is present throughout the poem. The cry room is a space within a church, and the woman finds comfort in the religious symbolism present in the room. The poem describes the woman kneeling in prayer and finding solace in the church's teachings.
Despite the religious symbolism, the poem is not preachy or overtly religious. Instead, the cry room represents a space of spirituality and offers the woman a way to connect with her faith and find comfort in her beliefs.
Literary Devices
Upton uses a variety of literary devices to convey the poem's themes and create a powerful emotional impact.
Metaphor
The cry room is the primary metaphor used throughout the poem. It represents a space of comfort, reflection, and release. The metaphor is used to convey the themes of grief and loss, hope and healing, and religion.
Imagery
The poem is rich in sensory imagery. Upton uses descriptive language to create vivid images in the reader's mind. For example, she describes the woman's tears as "pearls," and the cry room is described as a "holy place." The use of sensory imagery adds depth to the poem and helps to convey the emotions being expressed.
Repetition
The word "crying" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the cry room's central metaphor. The repetition helps to create a sense of rhythm and emphasizes the poem's themes.
Enjambment
The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues over the end of one line and onto the next, creates a sense of flow and movement in the poem. This technique adds to the poem's emotional impact and creates a sense of urgency.
Interpretation
"The Crying Room" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of grief and loss, hope and healing, and religion. The cry room metaphor is used to create a sense of comfort and safety, allowing the woman in the poem to express her emotions fully.
The poem offers a message of resilience and reminds the reader that it is possible to heal from even the most painful experiences. While the poem deals with a universal theme of loss, it does so with a sense of sensitivity and compassion.
Overall, "The Crying Room" is a literary masterpiece that leaves the reader with a profound sense of understanding and a lasting emotional impact. It is a testament to Upton's talent as a poet and her ability to convey complex themes with clarity and depth. It is a poem that will resonate with readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Crying Room: A Poetic Masterpiece by Lee Upton
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and leave a lasting impact on the reader. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "The Crying Room" by Lee Upton. This poem is a masterpiece that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the human condition. In this article, we will delve deeper into the poem and analyze its various elements.
The poem begins with the line, "In the crying room, the walls are made of glass." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately draws the reader into the world of the crying room. The use of glass as a metaphor for the walls is significant as it suggests that the room is transparent, and everything that happens inside it is visible to the outside world. This creates a sense of vulnerability and exposure, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The next few lines describe the people who inhabit the crying room. The speaker says, "The people in the crying room are always crying." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is a place where people come to grieve and mourn. The use of the word "always" suggests that the grief is ongoing and never-ending. This creates a sense of hopelessness and despair, which is further emphasized in the next line, "They cry for the dead and for the living."
The use of the phrase "for the dead and for the living" is significant as it suggests that the people in the crying room are mourning not only for those who have passed away but also for those who are still alive. This creates a sense of empathy and compassion, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem. The next few lines describe the various reasons why people come to the crying room. The speaker says, "They cry for the lost and for the found, for the ones who never were and for the ones who will never be."
The use of the phrase "for the lost and for the found" is significant as it suggests that the people in the crying room are mourning not only for those who are gone but also for those who have been found. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem. The use of the phrase "for the ones who never were and for the ones who will never be" is significant as it suggests that the people in the crying room are mourning not only for the past but also for the future. This creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The next few lines describe the physical characteristics of the crying room. The speaker says, "The crying room is a small room, and it is always full." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is a confined space that is always crowded. This creates a sense of claustrophobia and suffocation, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem. The use of the word "full" suggests that the room is overflowing with grief and sorrow.
The next few lines describe the sounds that can be heard in the crying room. The speaker says, "In the crying room, there is the sound of weeping, the sound of sobbing, the sound of wailing." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is a place where people come to express their emotions freely. The use of the words "weeping," "sobbing," and "wailing" suggests that the grief is intense and overwhelming.
The next few lines describe the emotions that are felt in the crying room. The speaker says, "In the crying room, there is the feeling of loss, the feeling of emptiness, the feeling of despair." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is a place where people come to confront their emotions and come to terms with their loss. The use of the words "loss," "emptiness," and "despair" suggests that the grief is all-encompassing and all-consuming.
The next few lines describe the people who come to the crying room. The speaker says, "In the crying room, there are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters." This line is significant as it suggests that grief is universal and affects people from all walks of life. The use of the familial relationships suggests that the grief is personal and intimate.
The next few lines describe the purpose of the crying room. The speaker says, "In the crying room, there is no comfort, no solace, no relief." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is not a place where people come to find comfort or solace. The use of the word "relief" suggests that the grief is ongoing and never-ending.
The final lines of the poem describe the aftermath of the crying room. The speaker says, "In the crying room, there is only the memory of tears, the memory of grief, the memory of loss." This line is significant as it suggests that the crying room is a place where people come to confront their emotions and come to terms with their loss. The use of the word "memory" suggests that the grief is ongoing and never-ending.
In conclusion, "The Crying Room" by Lee Upton is a poetic masterpiece that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the human condition. The use of metaphors, imagery, and language creates a powerful and emotional experience for the reader. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and leave a lasting impact on the reader.
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