'Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith' by Mary Oliver
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Every summer
I listen and look
under the sun's brass and even
into the moonlight, but I can't hear
anything, I can't see anything --
not the pale roots digging down, nor the green
stalks muscling up,
nor the leaves
deepening their damp pleats,
nor the tassels making,
nor the shucks, nor the cobs.
And still,
every day,
the leafy fields
grow taller and thicker --
green gowns lofting up in the night,
showered with silk.
And so, every summer,
I fail as a witness, seeing nothing --
I am deaf too
to the tick of the leaves,
the tapping of downwardness from the banyan feet --
all of it
happening
beyond any seeable proof, or hearable hum.
And, therefore, let the immeasurable come.
Let the unknowable touch the buckle of my spine.
Let the wind turn in the trees,
and the mystery hidden in the dirt
swing through the air.
How could I look at anything in this world
and tremble, and grip my hands over my heart?
What should I fear?
One morning
in the leafy green ocean
the honeycomb of the corn's beautiful body
is sure to be there.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem written by Mary Oliver, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th century. In this poem, Oliver explores the theme of faith, which has been a recurring topic in her works. The poem is a reflection on the beauty and mystery of nature, and how it can inspire feelings of faith and wonder in us. It is a short but powerful piece of poetry that captures the essence of Oliver's unique style and worldview.
Analysis
The poem begins with a description of a "perfect summer day" that "floats in the air". This image sets the tone for the poem, which is one of blissful contentment and serenity. Oliver's use of language is simple yet evocative, and she creates a vivid picture of a summer day that is so idyllic it seems almost unreal. The day is "laden with the scent of roses", and the sky is "dazzling blue". These descriptions create a sense of sensory overload, as if the beauty of the day is almost too much to take in.
As the poem progresses, Oliver shifts her focus to the idea of faith. She writes, "Everywhere, everywhere, / Love calls. / We have no ears / to hear." This stanza is a reminder of how easy it is to get caught up in our own lives and forget about the beauty and love that surrounds us. Oliver suggests that we are often so preoccupied with our own concerns that we fail to notice the signs of love and faith that are all around us. It is only when we take the time to stop and appreciate the world around us that we can truly feel a sense of faith and wonder.
The final stanza of the poem is where Oliver's message becomes most clear. She writes, "Little Summer Poem / Touching the Subject of Faith: / Every summer / I listen and look / under the sun's brass and even / into the moonlight, but I can't hear / anything, I can't see anything — / not the pale roots digging down nor the green stalks muscling up, / nor the leaves / deepening their damp pleats, / nor the tassels making, / nor the shucks, / nor the cobs. / And still, / every day, the leafy / branches of the tall trees / are full of summertime's / sweetest life, / swaying and rustling / over my head, / lovingly."
This stanza is a powerful reminder that faith is not something that can be seen or heard, but rather something that is felt. Oliver describes how she looks and listens for signs of faith, but finds nothing. She is unable to see the roots of the plants growing beneath the ground, or the intricate workings of nature that are hidden from view. And yet, despite her inability to see these things, she still feels a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around her. The leaves on the trees rustle in the wind, and the world is full of the "sweetest life". This, to Oliver, is proof of the presence of faith in the world.
Interpretation
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a poem that invites us to look at the world with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty and mystery of nature. Through her use of vivid imagery and simple language, Oliver creates a sense of wonder and awe at the world around us. She reminds us that even in the midst of our busy lives, there is still beauty and love to be found if we take the time to look for it.
At its core, the poem is a reflection on the nature of faith. Oliver suggests that faith is not something that can be seen or heard, but rather something that is felt. It is a sense of wonder and awe at the world around us, and a recognition of the beauty and love that exists in it. This interpretation of faith is a departure from more traditional religious notions of faith, which often place an emphasis on belief and doctrine. Instead, Oliver suggests that faith is a personal and subjective experience that is unique to each individual.
Conclusion
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that invites us to look at the world with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty and mystery of nature. Through her use of vivid imagery and simple language, Mary Oliver creates a sense of wonder and awe at the world around us. She reminds us that even in the midst of our busy lives, there is still beauty and love to be found if we take the time to look for it. The poem is a powerful reminder that faith is not something that can be seen or heard, but rather something that is felt. It is a sense of wonder and awe at the world around us, and a recognition of the beauty and love that exists in it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith: A Deep Dive Into Mary Oliver's Masterpiece
Mary Oliver, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her profound and insightful poems that explore the beauty of nature and the human experience. In her poem "Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith," Oliver delves into the complex topic of faith and its relationship with nature. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Oliver's poetic style and her unique perspective on the world.
Overview of the Poem
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a short poem consisting of only six lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and symbolism. The poem begins with the speaker describing a small, delicate flower that has bloomed in the summer. The flower is described as having "petals as white as snowdrops" and a "tiny yellow eye." The speaker then goes on to say that the flower is a "prayer" that has been answered.
The poem's second half shifts the focus to the speaker's own faith. The speaker says that they have faith in "the goodness of the world" and in the "voice that says, 'this way, this way.'" The poem ends with the speaker saying that they have faith in the "bright wings" that will carry them "beyond the fear of mortality."
Analysis of the Poem
At its core, "Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a poem about the relationship between nature and faith. The poem's opening lines describe a small flower that has bloomed in the summer. The flower is a symbol of the beauty and fragility of nature. The fact that the flower is described as a "prayer" that has been answered suggests that the speaker sees nature as a manifestation of the divine.
The poem's second half shifts the focus to the speaker's own faith. The speaker says that they have faith in "the goodness of the world" and in the "voice that says, 'this way, this way.'" This suggests that the speaker sees their faith as something that is rooted in their experience of the world. The "voice" that the speaker hears is a symbol of their intuition or inner guidance, which they trust to lead them in the right direction.
The poem's final lines are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that they have faith in the "bright wings" that will carry them "beyond the fear of mortality." This is a powerful image that suggests that the speaker sees death not as an end, but as a transition to a new state of being. The "bright wings" are a symbol of the divine, which will carry the speaker beyond the fear of death and into a new realm of existence.
Themes and Symbolism
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a poem that is rich in symbolism. The flower that is described in the opening lines is a symbol of the beauty and fragility of nature. The fact that the flower is described as a "prayer" that has been answered suggests that the speaker sees nature as a manifestation of the divine.
The "voice" that the speaker hears is a symbol of their intuition or inner guidance. This suggests that the speaker sees their faith as something that is rooted in their experience of the world. The fact that the speaker trusts this inner voice to lead them in the right direction suggests that they have a deep sense of connection to the world around them.
The "bright wings" that are mentioned in the final lines of the poem are a powerful symbol of the divine. The fact that the wings are described as "bright" suggests that they are a symbol of hope and transcendence. The fact that the wings will carry the speaker "beyond the fear of mortality" suggests that the speaker sees death not as an end, but as a transition to a new state of being.
Conclusion
"Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the complex relationship between nature and faith. The poem is rich in symbolism and meaning, and it offers a unique perspective on the world. Mary Oliver's poetic style is both profound and insightful, and this poem is a testament to her talent as a poet. Overall, "Little Summer Poem Touching The Subject Of Faith" is a poem that is sure to inspire and uplift anyone who reads it.
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