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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Behavior of Bees as a Metaphor: The poem opens with a vivid description of bees in late September, their movements wild and erratic as they approach the end of their lives. Alexander uses this imagery to reflect on the urgency and intensity of life as it nears its end. The bees' "dervish" behavior, characterized by fast, looping flights and dive-bombs, symbolizes a final burst of energy and purpose. Interplay of Life and Death: The mention of finding "their dried husks in my clothes" serves as a stark reminder of mortality. The bees' final actions, whether to sting or produce honey, symbolize the dual nature of existence, encompassing both pain and sweetness. Personal Narrative – The Grandmother's Stroke: The poem then shifts to a personal narrative, recounting an episode where the speaker's grandmother, after suffering a stroke, unexpectedly recovers enough to exhibit a moment of startling vitality and defiance. This incident, where she slaps a nurse, stands up, and lies down in the snow, parallels the bees' final energetic actions, underscoring the unpredictable nature of life and death. Waiting and Anticipation: The closing lines of the poem, "Two years later there is no other way to say, we are waiting," convey a sense of anticipation and acceptance. The grandmother, now silent and "light as an empty hive," is still breathing, creating a tension between the inevitability of death and the lingering presence of life. Themes of Resilience and Transition: Throughout the poem, Alexander explores themes of resilience in the face of mortality and the transitions that mark the end of life. The equinox, a time of year when day and night are of equal length, serves as a fitting metaphor for this balance between life and death, activity and stillness. In summary, "Equinox" by Elizabeth Alexander is a deeply moving poem that uses the natural phenomenon of bees' end-of-season behavior as a metaphor to explore human mortality and the complex emotions surrounding the decline and impending loss of a loved one. The poem's vivid imagery and the interweaving of natural and personal narratives create a powerful reflection on the cycles of life and the poignant moments that define our experiences of love, loss, and waiting.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLARK STREET BRIDGE by CARL SANDBURG FAREWELL TO FARGO: SELLING THE HOUSE by KAREN SWENSON THE WOUNDED CUPID. SONG by ANACREON ON THE ORIGIN OF EVIL by JOHN BYROM BATTLE OF THE BALTIC by THOMAS CAMPBELL MY GARDEN by RALPH WALDO EMERSON MOONRISE by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS EPISTLE TO ROBERT, EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER by ALEXANDER POPE |
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