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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
In Robert Creeley’s brief poem "Wall," the speaker reflects on the concept of limitation and boundary, using the imagery of a wall to symbolize barriers that are resistant to change despite any external effort applied to them. The line “You can push as hard as you want / on this outside side” conveys a sense of futility in attempting to alter or penetrate the wall. Here, the phrase "outside side" emphasizes the position of the speaker, who is on the exterior, removed from whatever lies beyond the wall, suggesting a separation that feels insurmountable. This imagery invokes the sense of exclusion or isolation, as the speaker is firmly placed outside of an enclosed space or understanding. The phrase "It stays limited / to a single face" underscores the wall's impenetrable nature. The wall, in its simplicity, possesses only "a single face," which could signify a lack of depth or transparency, implying that it reveals nothing about what lies beyond or behind it. This face serves as an impassable surface, unmoving and indifferent to any attempts to interact with it or break through it. The wall, in this sense, becomes a metaphor for limitations that are intrinsic and unyielding, whether they are personal, relational, or existential. In its brevity, the poem captures the essence of an encounter with an immutable obstacle, one that defines a limit to perception or understanding. This encounter with the wall serves as a reminder of the boundaries inherent in human experience—those aspects of reality that, despite our efforts, remain beyond our reach. Through this metaphor, Creeley touches on themes of isolation, frustration, and the human desire to transcend limitations, while acknowledging the persistent, sometimes impenetrable, nature of the boundaries we face in life.
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