'A Wicker Basket' by Robert Creeley
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Comes the time when it's later
and onto your table the headwaiter
puts the bill, and very soon after
rings out the sound of lively laughter--
Picking up change, hands like a walrus,
and a face like a barndoor's,
and a head without any apparent size,
nothing but two eyes--
So that's you, man,
or me. I make it as I can,
I pick up, I go
faster than they know--
Out the door, the street like a night,
any night, and no one in sight,
but then, well, there she is,
old friend Liz--
And she opens the door of her cadillac,
I step in back,
and we're gone.
She turns me on--
There are very huge stars, man, in the sky,
and from somewhere very far off someone hands
me a slice of apple pie,
with a gob of white, white ice cream on top of it,
and I eat it--
Slowly. And while certainly
they are laughing at me, and all around me is racket
of these cats not making it, I make it
in my wicker basket.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Wicker Basket: A Masterpiece of Minimalist Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that left you speechless, that made you ponder the meaning of life, death, and everything in between? If not, then you need to read "A Wicker Basket" by Robert Creeley, one of the most famous American poets of the 20th century.
This masterpiece of minimalist poetry is only six lines long, yet it encompasses the entire spectrum of human emotions, from love and desire to loss and grief. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze each line of the poem in detail, exploring its various themes, symbols, and literary devices.
Line 1: "A wicker basket of yellow plums"
The poem begins with a vivid image of a wicker basket filled with yellow plums. On the surface, this line seems simple and innocent, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a deeper meaning.
The wicker basket, for example, is a symbol of human mortality, as it is a perishable object that will eventually decay and fall apart. The yellow plums, on the other hand, represent the fleeting pleasures of life, which are sweet and desirable but ultimately impermanent.
Furthermore, the use of the color yellow is significant, as it is often associated with sunlight, warmth, and happiness, which are all emotions that are often associated with love and desire.
Line 2: "Cool on the kitchen floor"
The second line of the poem describes the wicker basket as "cool on the kitchen floor." This line is significant because it creates a sense of domesticity and intimacy, as if the scene is taking place in someone's home.
The word "cool" also suggests a sense of detachment and distance, which contrasts with the warmth and desire implied by the first line. This contrast creates a sense of tension and ambiguity that is characteristic of Creeley's minimalist style.
Line 3: "And the scent of the plums"
The third line focuses on the sense of smell, as it describes the "scent of the plums." This line is significant because it emphasizes the sensory experience of the scene and creates a sense of immersion for the reader.
The use of the word "scent" also suggests a sense of nostalgia and memory, as smells are often associated with past experiences and emotions. This theme of memory and loss is central to the poem and will be explored in more detail later on.
Line 4: "On the blue tile"
The fourth line of the poem describes the kitchen floor as "blue tile." This line is significant because it creates a visual contrast with the yellow plums and emphasizes the theme of color and perception.
The use of the color blue is also significant, as it is often associated with sadness, melancholy, and loneliness, which contrasts with the warmth and happiness associated with the yellow plums in the first line.
Line 5: "I hummed softly to myself"
The fifth line of the poem introduces the first-person perspective, as the speaker says, "I hummed softly to myself." This line is significant because it creates a sense of intimacy and personal connection between the speaker and the scene.
The use of the word "softly" also suggests a sense of vulnerability and fragility, which contrasts with the strength and durability implied by the wicker basket in the first line.
Line 6: "As the old cat"
The final line of the poem compares the speaker to an "old cat." This line is significant because it creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past that has been lost.
The use of the word "old" also suggests a sense of time and mortality, which reinforces the theme of impermanence and loss that runs throughout the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Wicker Basket" by Robert Creeley is a masterpiece of minimalist poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, loss, and mortality through a series of vivid images and sensory experiences.
Each line of the poem is significant in its own right, and together they create a powerful and evocative portrait of human existence. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, this is a poem that you simply cannot afford to miss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Wicker Basket: An Analysis of Robert Creeley's Classic Poem
Robert Creeley's poem "A Wicker Basket" is a classic piece of literature that has been studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. The poem is a beautiful and complex piece of work that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and analyze its structure, language, and meaning.
Structure
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The first and third lines of each stanza are written in iambic tetrameter, while the second and fourth lines are written in iambic trimeter. This creates a rhythmic pattern that gives the poem a musical quality. The use of iambic meter also gives the poem a sense of stability and order, which contrasts with the themes of love and loss that are explored in the poem.
Language
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, yet it is also rich in imagery and symbolism. The poem begins with the line "A wicker basket of figs," which immediately sets the scene and creates a visual image in the reader's mind. The use of the word "wicker" suggests a sense of fragility and impermanence, while the figs represent the sweetness and richness of life.
The second stanza begins with the line "The weight of love is a falling sun," which is a powerful metaphor that suggests the heaviness and inevitability of love. The image of the sun falling also suggests the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
The third stanza begins with the line "The basket cannot hold what we have become," which is a poignant statement about the impermanence of life and the inevitability of change. The use of the word "basket" suggests a sense of containment and limitation, while the phrase "what we have become" suggests the ever-changing nature of human existence.
The final stanza begins with the line "The figs have ripened and fallen away," which is a powerful image that suggests the passage of time and the inevitability of loss. The use of the word "ripened" suggests the sweetness and richness of life, while the phrase "fallen away" suggests the impermanence and transience of existence.
Meaning
The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The wicker basket of figs represents the sweetness and richness of life, while the weight of love represents the heaviness and inevitability of human existence. The poem suggests that life is fragile and impermanent, and that the only constant is change.
The use of the metaphor of the falling sun suggests that love is a force that cannot be stopped or controlled, and that it will eventually lead to loss and death. The image of the basket unable to hold what we have become suggests that human existence is constantly changing and evolving, and that we cannot be contained or limited by any one thing.
The final image of the figs ripening and falling away suggests that life is a cycle of growth and decay, and that everything eventually comes to an end. The poem suggests that we should cherish the sweetness and richness of life while we can, and that we should not be afraid of the inevitability of loss and change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Creeley's poem "A Wicker Basket" is a beautiful and complex piece of literature that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem's structure, language, and meaning all work together to create a powerful and poignant work of art. The poem reminds us that life is fragile and impermanent, and that we should cherish the sweetness and richness of life while we can.
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