Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Like Smoke" is a poem by David Ignatow, first published in his collection "Rescue the Dead" in 1965. The poem explores the fleeting nature of existence and how it can often feel like one's life is dissipating like smoke.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on the nature of smoke, how it appears and then disappears, and how it can seem like a metaphor for the transience of human life. The speaker then turns inward and contemplates their own mortality, pondering the inevitability of their own death. The second stanza shifts to a more philosophical discussion of the nature of existence, with the speaker considering how all of life is in a constant state of flux and how it can be difficult to grasp onto anything permanent. The final stanza returns to the metaphor of smoke, with the speaker acknowledging that their life too will one day disappear like smoke.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Imagery: The poem uses the image of smoke to convey the fleeting nature of life.
• Metaphor: The smoke is used as a metaphor for life, with the poem exploring how it can seem to disappear in an instant.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is introspective and contemplative, with the speaker grappling with the nature of existence and their own mortality.

Conclusion:

"Like Smoke" is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Through the use of the metaphor of smoke, Ignatow explores the transience of existence and the difficulties of grasping onto anything permanent in a constantly changing world. The poem's introspective and contemplative tone adds to its emotional impact, leaving the reader with a sense of the fragile beauty of life.

Poem Snippet:

"Everything that was once

solid in our lives

disappears like smoke,

even the things we thought

would be with us forever."

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