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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Tanks" by Paul Blackburn is a contemplative poem that juxtaposes the tranquility of everyday rural life with the underlying presence of mortality and the interconnectedness of all living things. Through simple yet evocative imagery, Blackburn paints a picture of a landscape where life's cycles and shared spaces underscore a deep sense of community and continuity. The poem opens with a description of houses and apartment blocks, characterized by their steep Norman roofs, immediately grounding the reader in a specific architectural and cultural setting. This introduction to human habitation transitions smoothly into the natural world, highlighting the symbiotic relationships that exist within it. The mention of the fish sharing the river with other fish, and the cabbages having a garden shared with lettuce, radishes, and tomatoes, evokes a sense of harmony and mutual existence. This theme of sharing and cohabitation is central to the poem, suggesting a model of living that respects and acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life forms. The cow grazing alone in a small pasture introduces a moment of solitude amidst the communal living, perhaps reflecting on the individual's place within the larger tapestry of life. This solitude is mirrored in the image of an old man lying on a sack on a hillside, watching the train whip by. Here, Blackburn captures a moment of peaceful reflection, a pause in the day that connects the individual to the wider world through the simple act of observation. The mention of the dead lying in the cemetery near the tracks introduces a somber note, reminding the reader of life's impermanence and the shared destiny of all living beings. The dead's sharing of the earth with other dead, and their disengagement from the world of the living ("do not look at anything"), serves as a poignant reflection on mortality and the cycle of life and death. The poem closes with the image of a barge on the river, its wash flying, disrupting the previously serene landscape. Yet, even this disturbance is incorporated into the poem's theme of sharing and interconnectedness—the fish share the river not only with each other but also with the barge and the fishermen. "Tanks" is a meditation on the cycles of life, the shared spaces we inhabit, and the ways in which all aspects of existence are intertwined. Blackburn's use of straightforward language and clear imagery invites the reader to consider the simple, often overlooked connections that bind us to each other and to the natural world. Through its quiet observation and reflection, the poem celebrates the beauty and complexity of life's interdependent web. POEM TEXT: https://writing.upenn.edu/epc/authors/blackburn/blackburn_tank.html
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT THE CHURCH DOOR by GEORGE SANTAYANA BUCOLIC COMEDY: THE DOLL by EDITH SITWELL MUSIC AND MEMORY by JOHN ALBEE ANDROMEDA by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE DEFINITION OF LOVE by ANDREW MARVELL DEAD IN THE SIERRAS by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER THE ARAB TO HIS FAVORITE STEED by CAROLINE ELIZABETH SARAH SHERIDAN NORTON THRENOS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY |
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