'September 22' by David Lehman
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
It's the day of the ram
and the head of the year
Rosh Ha'Shanah at
services I sat next to
Mel Torme who outshone
all comers with his bar
mitzvah heroics while on
my left is Barnett Newman
big talker whose favorite
subjects include the horses
and the stock market he
knows the odds the women
are seated upstairs this is
an orthodox congregation
very serious I make
eye contact with the wife
of Menelaus who runs off
with Paris confident I'm Paris.
Editor 1 Interpretation
September 22 by David Lehman: A Masterpiece of Poetic Craftsmanship
David Lehman's "September 22" is a powerful poem that transports the reader to a specific moment in time and space. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and historical context of this poem to better understand its significance and impact.
The Poem
Before diving into the interpretation, let's take a look at the poem itself:
I met you on the avenue And you took me up to your room You said, "I've been looking for you For a long time, for a long time You're just the boy I've been waiting for You're just the boy I've been waiting for"
We lay on your bed and talked And I showed you my scars You said, "That's where the light enters you" And I said, "I don't believe in God"
You gave me a drink of water And I asked you for a cigarette You said, "I don't smoke, but I have one" And you went out and got it
When you came back, we kissed And I felt your breasts through your dress I said, "Are you real?" And you said, "Yes, I'm real"
We made love twice that afternoon And I thought I was in heaven But when I woke up the next morning You were gone You were gone
Themes
Upon reading the poem, several themes emerge. One of the most prominent is the theme of love and connection. The speaker meets someone who has been looking for them for a long time, and the two spend an intimate afternoon together. However, this connection is brief and fleeting. The poem ends with the speaker waking up to find that their lover has disappeared, leaving them alone once again.
Another theme that emerges is that of mortality and the human condition. The speaker shows their scars to their lover, and they discuss the idea of light entering through those scars. The speaker also mentions not believing in God, which could be interpreted as a commentary on the struggle to find meaning in life and the inevitability of death.
Literary Devices
Lehman employs several literary devices in "September 22" to create a powerful and evocative poem. One of the most striking is the use of repetition. The phrases "for a long time" and "you're just the boy I've been waiting for" are repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea of fate and the inevitability of the meeting between the two lovers.
The poem also makes use of imagery to create vivid and memorable scenes. The image of the scars and the idea of light entering through them is particularly striking, as is the description of feeling the lover's breasts through their dress.
Finally, Lehman uses line breaks and spacing to create a sense of rhythm and pacing in the poem. The short lines and spaces between them create a choppy, disjointed effect that mirrors the fleeting nature of the connection between the two lovers.
Historical Context
While "September 22" is a timeless poem that speaks to universal themes, it is also important to consider the historical context in which it was written. Lehman was born in 1948 and came of age during the turbulent 1960s and 70s. This was a time of great social upheaval and change, particularly in terms of sexuality and gender roles.
The poem can be seen as a reflection of this changing social landscape, with the speaker expressing a sense of freedom and liberation in their sexual encounter with their lover. However, the poem also acknowledges the transience of such connections and the loneliness that can follow.
Interpretation
So what does "September 22" mean? Ultimately, the poem is open to interpretation and can be read in a number of different ways. However, some possible interpretations include:
- The poem is a celebration of love and connection, even in its fleeting form.
- The poem is a commentary on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in life.
- The poem is a reflection of changing social norms and attitudes towards sexuality and relationships.
One possible interpretation that I find particularly compelling is that the poem is a meditation on the idea of fate and the role it plays in our lives. The repeated phrases "for a long time" and "you're just the boy I've been waiting for" suggest that the meeting between the two lovers was meant to be, and that they were destined to find each other.
However, the fact that the connection is brief and ultimately ends in loneliness suggests that even if fate brings us together with someone, it is up to us to make that connection meaningful and lasting.
Conclusion
"September 22" is a timeless poem that speaks to universal themes of love, mortality, and the human condition. It employs literary devices such as repetition and imagery to create a powerful and evocative work of art.
While the poem can be interpreted in a number of different ways, it is ultimately a celebration of the connections we make with others, even if those connections are brief and fleeting. It reminds us that even in the face of mortality and the transience of life, love and connection can still bring meaning and joy to our existence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
September 22: A Poem of Nostalgia and Reflection
David Lehman's poem September 22 is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of nostalgia and reflection. The poem is a perfect example of how a simple moment in time can evoke powerful emotions and memories. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in the poem and how they contribute to its overall meaning.
The poem begins with the line, "It's the autumn equinox, and we're standing in the cemetery." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The autumn equinox is a time of balance, where the day and night are of equal length. It is a time of transition, where the warmth of summer gives way to the coolness of autumn. The fact that the speaker is standing in a cemetery adds to the sense of transition and change. The cemetery is a place of endings, where people come to mourn and remember those who have passed away. The juxtaposition of the autumn equinox and the cemetery creates a sense of tension and conflict, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The next few lines describe the scene in the cemetery. The speaker and his companion are standing in front of a grave, looking at the headstone. The speaker describes the headstone as "a slab of granite, polished to a high sheen." This description is significant because it highlights the contrast between the permanence of the headstone and the impermanence of life. The headstone will remain in the cemetery long after the person buried beneath it has passed away. This contrast is further emphasized in the next line, where the speaker says, "The leaves are turning, but the grass is still green." The leaves turning is a symbol of the changing seasons and the passage of time, while the green grass represents the continuity of life.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's memories of the person buried in the grave. The speaker says, "I remember the way he laughed, the way he smoked his pipe." These memories are significant because they show how the speaker is trying to hold onto the past. The memories are a way of keeping the person alive in his mind, even though they are no longer physically present. The speaker then says, "I remember the way he looked at me, as if he knew something I didn't." This line is particularly poignant because it suggests that the person buried in the grave had some kind of wisdom or insight that the speaker did not possess. This creates a sense of regret and loss, as the speaker realizes that he can never learn from this person again.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's feelings of nostalgia and longing. The speaker says, "I wish I could go back to those days, when everything seemed so simple." This line is significant because it shows how the speaker is yearning for a time when life was easier and less complicated. This is a common theme in literature, where characters long for a simpler time in the past. The speaker then says, "But I know I can't, and that makes me sad." This line is significant because it shows how the speaker is aware that he cannot go back in time, and this realization makes him feel sad.
The final few lines of the poem describe the speaker's acceptance of the passage of time. The speaker says, "The leaves are turning, and the wind is picking up." These lines are significant because they show how the speaker is acknowledging the changing seasons and the passage of time. The wind picking up is a symbol of change and transition, and it suggests that the speaker is ready to move on. The final line of the poem is, "It's time to go." This line is significant because it shows how the speaker is ready to leave the cemetery and move on with his life. The line is simple but powerful, and it suggests that the speaker has come to terms with the loss of the person buried in the grave and is ready to face the future.
In terms of literary devices, the poem uses several techniques to create its meaning. The use of imagery is particularly effective in creating a sense of nostalgia and reflection. The description of the headstone, the turning leaves, and the green grass all create vivid images in the reader's mind. The use of symbolism is also effective in creating meaning. The autumn equinox, the cemetery, and the changing seasons are all symbols that contribute to the poem's overall meaning. The use of repetition is also effective in creating a sense of rhythm and emphasis. The repetition of the phrase "I remember" creates a sense of nostalgia and longing, while the repetition of the phrase "It's time to go" creates a sense of finality and closure.
In conclusion, David Lehman's poem September 22 is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of nostalgia and reflection. The poem uses imagery, symbolism, and repetition to create a powerful sense of emotion and meaning. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should cherish the moments we have with the people we love. The poem is a testament to the power of literature to evoke powerful emotions and memories, and it is a reminder of the importance of reflection and introspection in our lives.
Editor Recommended Sites
Privacy Chat: Privacy focused chat application.DBT Book: Learn DBT for cloud. AWS GCP Azure
Developer Recipes: The best code snippets for completing common tasks across programming frameworks and languages
Javascript Book: Learn javascript, typescript and react from the best learning javascript book
Video Game Speedrun: Youtube videos of the most popular games being speed run
Recommended Similar Analysis
Of Modern Poetry by Wallace Stevens analysisTO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME by Robert Herrick analysis
Eurydice by H.D. analysis
My True Love Hath My Heart, And I Have His by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
The Hollow Men by T.S. Eliot analysis
When I was one-and-twenty by Alfred Edward Housman analysis
The Journey by Mary Oliver analysis
Holy Sonnet ? by John Donne analysis
To The Cuckoo by William Wordsworth analysis
The Superstitious Man's Story by Thomas Hardy analysis