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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"God Gives to Every Bird Its Proper Food But They Must All Fly for It" by Dick Allen is a poignant and vividly imaginative poem that explores themes of aging, the intrusion of nature into the spaces of memory and solitude, and the ultimate vulnerability that accompanies the passage of time. Through the metaphor of birds infiltrating the domestic and personal spaces of the narrator's aunt, Allen conveys the complexity of facing the encroachments of age and the inevitable changes it brings to one's life and identity. The poem opens with a striking image of the aunt's home being overtaken by birds, each species representing different aspects of her past and her psyche. The wren nesting in the "little thoughts of her TV" suggests the invasion of her quiet moments of leisure and reflection by the natural world, a metaphor for the uncontrollable aspects of aging and memory. The cardinal flying backward through her porcelain signifies a disruption of order and beauty, a reversal of the expected course of things that parallels the upheavals experienced in old age. As the poem progresses, more birds infiltrate her home, each disturbing her peace in various ways. Sparrows unearth seeds among her "early days," indicating the resurgence of past memories or perhaps regrets. A plover, traditionally associated with melancholy and loneliness, lands on her love for Charlotte Brontë, symbolizing the intrusion of sadness into her cherished intellectual pursuits. The invasion of birds becomes increasingly personal and distressing as a bird pulls at her "last heartstring," likening a deep emotional vulnerability to a worm exposed by rain. This image poignantly captures the essence of her frailty and the feeling of being preyed upon by the inevitable forces of nature and time. The poem also touches on the aunt's rich past, her experiences with notable figures like Bernstein and her imagined encounter with Picasso, contrasting her vibrant life with her present state of helplessness against the birds. This contrast serves to highlight the relentless passage of time and the erosion of the self that it can entail. The closing lines of the poem, with the narrator empathetically listening to his aunt's distress from a thousand miles away, underscore the isolation and distance that often accompany aging. The mention of various bird species, including the "purple finch, the evening grosbeak and the rapt bluejays," adds to the cacophony and chaos, symbolizing the overwhelming nature of her experience. Through this intricate tapestry of imagery and metaphor, Allen delves into the universal human experience of aging, loss, and the struggle to maintain one's identity in the face of relentless change. The poem is a tender and nuanced reflection on the challenges of navigating the twilight years, imbued with empathy, vivid imagery, and a deep understanding of the human condition. POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=40567
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL THE DIFFICULT LAND by EDWIN MUIR TWO PICTURES OF A LEAF by MARVIN BELL THE CELLAR by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR THE PALLOR OF SURVIVAL by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SUCCESFUL SPECIES by JOHN CIARDI SAMSON PREDICTS FROM GAZA THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE by LUCILLE CLIFTON |
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