'Parable Of The Dove' by Louise Glück

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Meadowlands1996A dove lived in a village.
When it opened its mouth
sweetness came out, sound
like a silver light around
the cherry bough. But
the dove wasn't satisfied.It saw the villagers
gathered to listen under
the blossoming tree.
It didn't think: I
am higher that they are.
It wanted to wealk among them,
to experience the violence of human feeling,
in part for its song's sake.So it became human.
It found passion, it found violence,
first conflated, then
as separate emotions
and these were not
contained by music. Thus
its song changed,
the sweet notes of its longing to become human
soured and flattened. Thenthe world drew back; the mutant
fell from love
as from the cherry branch,
it fell stained with the bloody
fruit of the tree.So it is true after all, not merely
a rule of art:
change your form and you change your nature.
And time does this to us.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry Analysis of "Parable of the Dove" by Louise Glück

Have you ever read a poem that left you with more questions than answers? This is what happens when you read Louise Glück's "Parable of the Dove." It's a poem that, on the surface, seems straightforward enough, but the more you read it, the more complex and ambiguous it becomes.

Overview of the Poem

"Parable of the Dove" is a short poem, only ten lines long, written in free verse. The poem tells the story of a dove that has been released into the world, only to return to its captor's hands. The speaker of the poem wonders if the dove's return is due to its loyalty or its fear of the unknown.

Analysis of the Poem

The first line of the poem sets the scene: "The dove returns, as the twig is bent." This line has two possible interpretations. On one hand, it refers to the old proverb "as the twig is bent, so grows the tree." This proverb means that the way something is started will significantly impact its future. If the twig is bent in a certain way, the tree will grow in that same direction. In the context of the poem, the dove's return could be seen as the result of the way it was treated in captivity - it was bent in a certain way, and that has influenced its behavior now that it's free.

On the other hand, the word "twig" could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the dove itself. The dove, like a twig, is fragile and easily bent to someone's will. If the dove is seen as the bent twig, then its return to its captor's hands could be interpreted as a result of its own inability to function outside of captivity.

In the second line of the poem, the speaker describes the dove's return as "a withered thing." This description creates a sense of sadness and regret - the dove's freedom has been short-lived, and it has returned to a state of captivity. But why did the dove return? The speaker wonders if it was out of loyalty or fear.

The third line of the poem begins with the phrase "Or is it?" This line is significant because it introduces the possibility that the dove's return is not due to loyalty or fear, but rather some other reason. This line creates a sense of ambiguity - the reader is left to wonder what the other reason could be.

The fourth line of the poem begins with the phrase "The dove's fear of the unknown." This line suggests that the dove's return is due to fear - fear of the unknown world outside of captivity. But why would the dove be afraid of the unknown? Perhaps it's because it's been conditioned to fear the outside world. Or perhaps it's because the outside world is truly frightening.

The fifth line of the poem begins with the phrase "or loyalty to what has already survived." This line suggests that the dove's return is not due to fear, but rather loyalty. The dove may have returned to its captor's hands because it feels a sense of loyalty to the captivity it has already survived. This interpretation creates a sense of irony - the dove is loyal to the very thing that held it captive.

The sixth line of the poem begins with the phrase "that never promised it a safe return." This line suggests that the dove knew the risks of leaving captivity, but did so anyway. This line also creates a sense of ambiguity - did the dove leave captivity because it wanted to, or was it forced to leave? And if it was forced to leave, why did it return?

The seventh line of the poem begins with the phrase "The sickle can't be far behind." This line creates a sense of foreboding - the sickle is a tool used for cutting, and it suggests that the dove's return to captivity will not end well. This line also creates a sense of inevitability - the dove's fate is sealed.

The eighth line of the poem begins with the phrase "The dove is faithful to its fear." This line suggests that the dove's return to captivity is indeed due to fear. The dove is faithful to its fear, even if it means returning to a state of captivity. This line also suggests that the dove's fear is irrational - it's afraid of something that may not even be there.

The ninth line of the poem begins with the phrase "And to its will to survive." This line suggests that the dove's return to captivity is also due to its will to survive. The dove may have returned to captivity because it believes it's the only way to survive. This line also creates a sense of conflict - the dove's will to survive is at odds with its desire for freedom.

The final line of the poem, "As we are faithful to the past," brings the poem full circle. The dove's loyalty to captivity mirrors our own loyalty to the past. We are all bound by our past experiences, just as the dove is bound by its past captivity. This line also raises the question of whether it's possible to break free from our past - can we truly move on and start anew?

Conclusion

"Parable of the Dove" is a poem that raises more questions than it answers. The poem tells the story of a dove that has been released into the world, only to return to its captor's hands. The speaker wonders if the dove's return is due to its loyalty or its fear of the unknown. The poem creates a sense of ambiguity and leaves the reader to wonder about the dove's motivations. Ultimately, the poem is an exploration of loyalty, fear, and the past. It asks us to consider whether we are bound by our past experiences, and whether it's possible to break free and start anew.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Poetry Parable Of The Dove by Louise Glück is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The poem is a parable, which means that it tells a story with a moral lesson. In this case, the story is about a dove that is trapped in a cage and the speaker's attempts to set it free.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the dove as "a creature of the air" that is "imprisoned in a cage." This image immediately sets up a contrast between freedom and captivity, which is a central theme of the poem. The speaker then goes on to describe her attempts to set the dove free, saying that she "opened the door of the cage" and "waited, hoping the bird would fly out."

However, the dove does not fly out of the cage. Instead, it "huddled in a corner" and "refused to move." This is a powerful image that suggests that the dove has become so accustomed to its captivity that it no longer knows how to be free. It also suggests that the dove is afraid of the unknown and prefers the safety and security of its cage.

The speaker then tries to coax the dove out of the cage by offering it food and water. However, the dove still refuses to move. This is another powerful image that suggests that the dove has lost its will to live. It has become so resigned to its captivity that it no longer cares about its own survival.

The speaker then tries to force the dove out of the cage by shaking it and shouting at it. However, this only makes the dove more afraid and more resistant to leaving the cage. This is a powerful image that suggests that force and coercion are not effective ways of achieving freedom. Instead, freedom must be chosen and embraced willingly.

The poem then takes a surprising turn when the speaker realizes that she is the one who is trapped in the cage. She says, "I saw that I was the bird in the cage, / and the bird outside the cage was my soul." This is a powerful image that suggests that the speaker has been living a life of captivity, perhaps in a loveless or unfulfilling relationship, and that her soul is longing for freedom.

The poem ends with the speaker saying that she is "still in the cage, but now I know / that the door is open." This is a powerful image that suggests that the speaker has finally realized that she has the power to choose her own freedom. She no longer needs to wait for someone else to set her free. She can choose to leave the cage whenever she wants.

Overall, The Poetry Parable Of The Dove is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. It is a powerful reminder that freedom is a choice that must be embraced willingly, and that force and coercion are not effective ways of achieving it. It is also a reminder that we all have the power to choose our own freedom, and that we should never give up on our own souls.

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