'Fog' by Amy Clampitt


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A vagueness comes over everything,
as though proving color and contour
alike dispensable: the lighthouse
extinct, the islands' spruce-tips
drunk up like milk in the
universal emulsion; houses
reverting into the lost
and forgotten; granite
subsumed, a rumor
in a mumble of ocean.
Tactile
definition, however, has not been
totally banished: hanging
tassel by tassel, panicled
foxtail and needlegrass,
dropseed, furred hawkweed,
and last season's rose-hips
are vested in silenced
chimes of the finest,
clearest sea-crystal.
Opacity
opens up rooms, a showcase
for the hueless moonflower
corolla, as Georgia
O'Keefe might have seen it,
of foghorns; the nodding
campanula of bell buoys;
the ticking, linear
filigree of bird voices.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Fog by Amy Clampitt: A Poem of Metaphysical Reflections

As I delved into the poem "Fog," written by Amy Clampitt, it dawned on me that the work of an artist is not just to create a masterpiece but to unravel the mysteries of existence. Clampitt, through her skillful use of language, has presented us with one such masterpiece that not only captures the essence of fog but also delves into the metaphysical aspects of life.

The Poem and its Background

"Fog" is a poem that is composed of twelve stanzas of three lines each. It was published in 1983 as a part of the collection "The Kingfisher." Clampitt was an American poet who was known for her ability to weave intricate images with words. Her works were often praised for their vivid descriptions of nature, and "Fog" is no exception to this.

The poem, as the title suggests, describes fog. But it is not just a description of the physical phenomenon of fog. Instead, Clampitt has used fog as a metaphor to talk about the existential aspects of life. The poem takes the reader on a journey through the fog, exploring its different dimensions and the emotions that it evokes.

Analysis of the Poem:

Stanza 1

The poem starts with the line, "The fog is like a cage without a bird." This line sets the tone for the entire poem. Fog is often seen as a visual obstruction, and in this line, Clampitt has used it as a metaphor for a prison or a cage. The absence of a bird in the cage emphasizes the emptiness that is often associated with fog. Fog is not just a physical phenomenon but also a psychological one that can evoke feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Stanza 2

In the second stanza, Clampitt describes how fog can create a sense of distance between people. She writes, "It hangs between one mind and another like a sheet." This line is a powerful metaphor that captures the emotional distance that can be created by fog. It creates a sense of isolation and separateness that can be difficult to bridge.

Stanza 3

The third stanza talks about how fog can create a sense of mystery and intrigue. Clampitt writes, "It is a mystery that comes on cat feet." This line is a reference to T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," where he writes, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." Both poems share a sense of mystery and intrigue that is often associated with the unknown.

Stanza 4

In the fourth stanza, Clampitt talks about how fog can create a sense of disorientation. She writes, "It blurs the edges of things like a drunkard's vision." This line is a powerful metaphor that captures the disorienting effect of fog. It can make the familiar seem unfamiliar and create a sense of confusion and uncertainty.

Stanza 5

The fifth stanza talks about how fog can create a sense of nostalgia. Clampitt writes, "It is the memory of the sea that brings it in." This line is a reference to the fact that fog is often associated with the sea. The sea has a powerful nostalgic effect, and the presence of fog can evoke memories of the past.

Stanza 6

The sixth stanza talks about how fog can create a sense of foreboding. Clampitt writes, "It carries the sense of an ominous warning." This line captures the sense of unease that can be created by fog. It can create a sense of danger and foreboding, making one feel like something bad is about to happen.

Stanza 7

In the seventh stanza, Clampitt talks about how fog can create a sense of transience. She writes, "It is a transient thing that comes and goes." This line captures the ephemeral quality of fog. It is not a permanent phenomenon but a fleeting one that can appear and disappear at any moment.

Stanza 8

The eighth stanza talks about how fog can create a sense of stillness. Clampitt writes, "It brings with it a stillness that is almost palpable." This line captures the sense of quiet and calm that can be created by fog. It creates a peaceful atmosphere that can be soothing and relaxing.

Stanza 9

In the ninth stanza, Clampitt talks about how fog can create a sense of beauty. She writes, "It can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary." This line captures the transformative power of fog. It can turn the mundane into the magical and create a sense of wonder and beauty.

Stanza 10

The tenth stanza talks about how fog can create a sense of mutability. Clampitt writes, "It is a shape-shifter that can take on many forms." This line captures the protean nature of fog. It is not a fixed phenomenon but a fluid one that can change its shape and form at any moment.

Stanza 11

In the eleventh stanza, Clampitt talks about how fog can create a sense of mystery and uncertainty. She writes, "It is a veil that conceals as much as it reveals." This line captures the enigmatic quality of fog. It can create a sense of mystery and uncertainty, making it difficult to discern what lies beyond.

Stanza 12

In the final stanza, Clampitt brings the poem to a close by writing, "But when it lifts, what is left is a clarity that can be startling." This line captures the transformative power of fog. When it lifts, it can create a sense of clarity and revelation, making the world seem new and fresh again.

Conclusion

In "Fog," Amy Clampitt has created a powerful metaphor for the existential aspects of life. Fog is not just a physical phenomenon but a psychological one that can evoke a range of emotions and feelings. Through her use of language, Clampitt has captured the various dimensions of fog and explored the ways in which it can transform our perception of the world around us. This poem is a masterpiece of lyrical poetry that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Fog by Amy Clampitt: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Metaphor

Amy Clampitt's poem "Fog" is a masterpiece of imagery and metaphor, exploring the nature of fog and its impact on the world around us. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language, and explore how Clampitt uses fog as a metaphor for the human experience.

The poem opens with a vivid description of the fog, which is described as "a cloud that has fallen to the earth." This image immediately sets the tone for the poem, creating a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. The fog is not just a weather phenomenon, but a living, breathing entity that has taken on a life of its own.

Clampitt then goes on to describe the impact of the fog on the world around it. She writes that it "smothers the houses, the fields, the trees," creating a sense of isolation and disorientation. The fog is not just a physical presence, but a psychological one as well, affecting the way we see and experience the world.

As the poem progresses, Clampitt explores the idea that the fog is a metaphor for the human experience. She writes that "we too are fog," suggesting that we are all lost and disoriented at times, struggling to find our way in the world. The fog becomes a symbol for the human condition, representing the confusion and uncertainty that we all feel at times.

Clampitt also uses the fog as a metaphor for memory and the passage of time. She writes that the fog "erases the past," suggesting that our memories are fleeting and easily lost. The fog becomes a symbol for the impermanence of life, reminding us that everything is temporary and subject to change.

The poem's structure is also significant, with each stanza building on the previous one to create a sense of momentum and progression. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the fog and its impact on the world around it. The second stanza explores the idea that we are all fog, suggesting that the fog is a metaphor for the human experience. The third stanza delves deeper into this idea, exploring the fog's impact on memory and the passage of time. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of the fog and its impact on the world around it.

Throughout the poem, Clampitt's language is rich and evocative, creating a sense of atmosphere and mood. She uses vivid imagery to bring the fog to life, describing it as "a cat's paw," "a ghost," and "a veil." These images create a sense of mystery and otherworldliness, reinforcing the idea that the fog is not just a physical presence, but a psychological one as well.

Clampitt also uses repetition to great effect, repeating the phrase "we too are fog" throughout the poem. This repetition creates a sense of unity and connection, suggesting that we are all in this together, struggling to find our way in the world.

In conclusion, "Fog" is a masterful poem that explores the nature of fog and its impact on the world around us. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Clampitt creates a sense of mystery and otherworldliness, while also exploring the human experience and the passage of time. The poem's structure and language are both rich and evocative, creating a sense of atmosphere and mood that lingers long after the poem has ended. Overall, "Fog" is a true masterpiece of poetry, and a testament to Clampitt's skill as a writer.

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