Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Infertility" is a poem by David Baker, first published in his 2004 collection "Treatise on Touch." The poem explores the theme of infertility and the emotional pain and longing that can come with the desire for a child.

Explanation:

The poem describes the speaker's longing for a child and their struggles with infertility. The speaker reflects on the emptiness of their home and the pain of watching other couples with children. The poem concludes with the speaker acknowledging the reality of their situation and finding solace in the love they share with their partner.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme scheme or meter. The lines are of varying length and follow a loose structure.
• Theme: The poem explores the theme of infertility and the emotional pain and longing that can come with the desire for a child.
• Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery, such as the "emptiness" of the speaker's home and the "clenched" fists of other couples with children. These images convey a sense of loss and frustration.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is somber and reflective, with moments of despair and acceptance.
• Sound: The poem makes use of repetition, with the phrase "we have no children" appearing several times throughout the poem. The use of assonance and consonance create a sense of musicality.
• Language: The language of the poem is straightforward and accessible, with a focus on concrete details.
• Figurative language: The poem uses metaphor, with the speaker's longing for a child serving as a metaphor for the human desire for connection and love.
• Structure: The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying length.
• Symbolism: The empty home serves as a symbolic representation of the speaker's longing for a child and the sense of loss and frustration that comes with infertility.
• Emotion: The poem conveys a sense of sadness, frustration, and longing, as well as a glimmer of acceptance and hope.

Conclusion:

"Infertility" is a powerful meditation on the pain and longing that can come with infertility, as well as the solace and acceptance that can come from finding love and connection in other ways. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, David Baker captures the complexities and nuances of the human desire for connection and the pain of unfulfilled longing.

Poem Snippet:

"We have no children. The emptiness of our home

is heavy. We look at clenched fists of other couples,

hear babies cry in the supermarket, in the next booth.

We hold hands under the table like a secret, a promise."

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