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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Turkish Pears in August" by Robert Bly is a reflective piece that delves into the nature of poetry and its capacity to create a world rich with sensory experiences and intimate details. Through the metaphor of a household and its various elements, Bly personifies poetry as a living entity with its own relationships, spaces, and activities, suggesting the depth and complexity that poems can embody. This poem celebrates the tangible pleasures and nourishment that poetry can provide, likening its offerings to the simple yet profound joy of eating ripe pears in summer. The opening lines introduce the idea that a poem can possess "her own husband / And children, her nooks and gardens and kitchens," immediately attributing to poetry the qualities of a nurturing, life-giving force within a familial setting. This personification extends the role of poetry beyond the realm of mere words on a page, suggesting that poems can create spaces of warmth, belonging, and care. The mention of "those sweet-armed serving boys / Who carry veal in shiny copper pans" further enriches this imagery, evoking a sense of abundance and attentiveness to detail that poetry can encapsulate. Bly contrasts the "plebeian sweets" offered by poems with the "chocolates French diners / Eat at evening," highlighting the accessibility and universal appeal of the pleasures found in poetry. The comparison suggests that while the latter may be associated with refinement and exclusivity, the joys of poetry are more democratic, available to all who seek them. This idea reinforces the notion that poetry can provide deep satisfaction and delight without the trappings of sophistication or wealth. The poem culminates in the image of "old pleasures abundant / As Turkish pears picked in the garden in August," a symbol of natural, unadorned joy. The choice of Turkish pears, known for their sweetness and juiciness, serves as a perfect metaphor for the richness that poetry can bring to our lives. Picking these pears in the height of summer evokes a sense of immediacy and sensory pleasure, paralleling the experience of engaging with a poem that resonates on a profound, emotional level. "Turkish Pears in August" is a meditation on the ability of poetry to nourish, enrich, and sustain the human spirit. Robert Bly, through his masterful use of imagery and metaphor, invites readers to appreciate the myriad ways in which poems can fulfill and delight us. By drawing parallels between the simple joy of eating ripe fruit and the pleasure derived from poetry, Bly underscores the importance of savoring the beauty and abundance that life, in its various forms, has to offer. This poem is a tribute to the essential role of poetry in feeding the soul, reminding us of the depth of experience and connection that lies within the act of reading and reflecting on poetry.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SETTING THE TABLE by MATTHEA HARVEY WAITRESSING IN THE ROOM WITH A THOUSAND MOONS by MATTHEA HARVEY CANDIED YAMS' by TERRANCE HAYES DINNER OF HERBS by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN THE BANQUET SONG by KENNETH KOCH |
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