Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Under All Speech" is a poem by David Wagoner, an American poet and novelist known for his works that explore themes of nature and the human experience. Wagoner was born in 1926 in Ohio and has written numerous books of poetry, including "Under All Speech," which was first published in 1976.

Explanation:

The poem "Under All Speech" is a meditation on the power of silence and the unspoken emotions and thoughts that lie beneath our words. It is about the difficulty of truly communicating with others. Despite our best efforts, there is always something that we cannot fully articulate. The poem describes the speaker's observations of the natural world, where communication happens through non-verbal cues and subtle gestures. The poem also touches on the idea that there is much that goes unsaid in our human interactions, and that sometimes the most profound moments of connection happen in the spaces between words.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse with no consistent rhyme or meter
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the natural world and the ways in which communication happens through non-verbal cues and subtle gestures
• Tone: Meditative tone that explores the power of silence and the unspoken emotions and thoughts that lie beneath our words
• Metaphor: Use of the natural world as a metaphor for the ways in which communication can happen beyond words

Conclusion:

"Under All Speech" is a reflective and contemplative poem that celebrates the power of silence and the unspoken emotions and thoughts that lie beneath our words. Through the use of vivid imagery, tone, and metaphor, the poem portrays the natural world as a reminder that communication can happen beyond words, through non-verbal cues and subtle gestures. The poem challenges us to embrace the power of silence and to recognize that sometimes the most profound moments of connection happen in the spaces between words.

Poem Snippet:

Under all speech, there is silence,

the stillness between the words.

In the natural world,

communication happens through non-verbal cues

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