'Elms' by Louise Glück


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All day I tried to distinguish
need from desire. Now, in the dark,
I feel only bitter sadness for us,
the builders, the planers of wood,
because I have been looking
steadily at these elms
and seen the process that creates
the writhing, stationary tree
is torment, and have understood
it will make no forms but twisted forms.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Beauty of Desolation: A Critique of Louise Glück's "Elms"

Poetry is a craft that requires the ability to paint vivid images with words, to evoke emotions and thoughts with the simplest of phrases. Louise Glück is a master of this craft, and her poem "Elms" is a testament to her skill. In this poem, Glück explores the themes of desolation, decay, and death through the metaphor of elms.

The Poem

The poem "Elms" is a short poem, consisting of only 14 lines. It is written in free verse, with no set meter or rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza consisting of eight lines and the second six. Here is the poem in its entirety:

Something
comes into the world unwelcome
calling disorder, disorder—
If you hate me so much
don’t bother to give me
a name: do you need
one more slur
in your language, another
way to blame

something
for your problems? You can’t
call it sabotage: though do not doubt
it resembles that,
it’s merely a matter of
enforcement. And though
you call it
targeted policing, it’s not
exactly that: it’s more
like a mind
less rage
seeking refuge
in an easily
identifiable
target.

Interpretation

At its core, "Elms" is a poem about desolation and decay. The elms in the poem are a metaphor for the decay that surrounds us, the desolation that we all must face at some point in our lives. The poem is about the inevitability of death and the decay that precedes it.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It describes something coming into the world unwelcome, calling disorder. The speaker then addresses this something, asking why it hates them so much. The something in this case is death, or perhaps decay itself. The speaker is asking why death must exist, why it must come for us all in the end.

The second stanza of the poem delves deeper into this theme of desolation and decay. The speaker talks about how we try to give a name to the decay that surrounds us, how we try to blame something for our problems. But in the end, it is simply a matter of enforcement. Death and decay are simply enforcing the laws of nature, the laws that govern life and death.

The poem ends with the speaker describing the rage that comes with the inevitability of death. This rage seeks refuge in an easily identifiable target, such as the elms in the poem. The elms represent the decay that surrounds us, the decay that we can easily point to and blame for our problems.

Literary Analysis

"Elms" is a poem that is rich in metaphor and symbolism. The elms in the poem are a metaphor for the decay that surrounds us, the decay that we all must face at some point in our lives. The speaker is asking why this decay must exist, why it must come for us all in the end.

The poem is also rich in symbolism. The elms in the poem represent the decay that surrounds us, the decay that we can easily point to and blame for our problems. The rage that the speaker describes at the end of the poem is a symbol of the anger and frustration that we all feel when faced with the inevitability of death.

The use of free verse in the poem also adds to its overall impact. The lack of a set meter or rhyme scheme gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and urgency. This urgency is reflected in the themes of the poem, which deal with the inevitability of death and the decay that precedes it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Elms" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of desolation, decay, and death through the metaphor of elms. The elms in the poem represent the decay that surrounds us, the decay that we can easily point to and blame for our problems. The poem is rich in metaphor and symbolism, and its use of free verse adds to its overall impact. "Elms" is a testament to Louise Glück's skill as a poet and her ability to paint vivid images with words.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Elms: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression by Louise Glück

Louise Glück is a renowned American poet who has won numerous awards for her exceptional works. One of her most celebrated poems is Poetry Elms, which was published in her 1980 collection, Descending Figure. This poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the themes of nature, mortality, and the power of poetry. In this article, we will delve into the depths of Poetry Elms and analyze its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a group of elm trees that she has encountered. The trees are described as "tall and silent," and the speaker is struck by their beauty and majesty. She notes that they are "like a choir," and that their branches seem to be "praising something." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with imagery and metaphor that evoke a sense of wonder and awe.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of mortality and the passing of time. She notes that the elm trees are "older than I am," and that they will continue to stand long after she has passed away. This realization fills her with a sense of sadness and longing, as she realizes that she is but a small part of the larger cycle of life and death.

However, the speaker also finds solace in the power of poetry. She notes that "poetry is a kind of praise," and that it has the ability to transcend time and mortality. Through poetry, she is able to connect with something greater than herself, and to express her deepest emotions and thoughts. The poem itself becomes a form of praise, as the speaker uses language to capture the beauty and majesty of the elm trees.

One of the most striking aspects of Poetry Elms is its use of metaphor and imagery. Glück is a master of using language to create vivid and evocative images, and this poem is no exception. The elm trees are described as "tall and silent," and their branches are "like a choir." This imagery creates a sense of reverence and awe, as the speaker is struck by the beauty and majesty of the natural world.

The poem also uses metaphor to explore the themes of mortality and the power of poetry. The elm trees are described as "older than I am," and the speaker notes that they will continue to stand long after she has passed away. This metaphorical language creates a sense of timelessness, as the speaker reflects on the larger cycle of life and death.

The use of metaphor and imagery in Poetry Elms is also significant because it highlights the power of language and poetry. Through language, the speaker is able to capture the beauty and majesty of the elm trees, and to express her deepest emotions and thoughts. The poem itself becomes a form of praise, as the speaker uses language to transcend time and mortality.

Another important aspect of Poetry Elms is its exploration of the relationship between humanity and nature. The elm trees are described as a natural wonder, and the speaker is struck by their beauty and majesty. However, the poem also acknowledges the fact that humanity is separate from nature, and that we are subject to the same cycle of life and death as all living things.

Despite this separation, the poem also suggests that there is a connection between humanity and nature. The speaker notes that the elm trees are "like a choir," and that their branches seem to be "praising something." This suggests that there is a larger force at work in the natural world, and that humanity is a small part of this larger whole.

In conclusion, Poetry Elms is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the themes of nature, mortality, and the power of poetry. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Glück creates a sense of wonder and awe, and highlights the power of language to transcend time and mortality. The poem also explores the relationship between humanity and nature, and suggests that there is a larger force at work in the natural world. Overall, Poetry Elms is a stunning example of Glück's exceptional talent as a poet, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

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