'Paula Becker To Clara Westhoff' by Adrienne Rich
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1976The autumn feels slowed down,
summer still holds on here, even the light
seems to last longer than it should
or maybe I'm using it to the thin edge.
The moon rolls in the air. I didn't want this child.
You're the only one I've told.
I want a child maybe, someday, but not now.
Otto has a calm, complacent way
of following me with his eyes, as if to say
Soon you'll have your hands full!
And yes, I will; this child will be mine
not his, the failures, if I fail
will all be mine. We're not good, Clara,
at learning to prevent these things,
and once we have a child it is ours.
But lately I feel beyond Otto or anyone.
I know now the kind of work I have to do.
It takes such energy! I have the feeling I'm
moving somewhere, patiently, impatiently,in my loneliness. I'm looking everywhere in nature
for new forms, old forms in new places,
the planes of an antique mouth, let's say, among the leaves.
I know and do not know
what I am searching for.
Remember those months in the studio together,
you up to your strong forearms in wet clay,
I trying to make something of the strange impressions
assailing me--the Japanese
flowers and birds on silk, the drunks
sheltering in the Louvre, that river-light,
those faces...Did we know exactlywhy we were there? Paris unnerved you,
you found it too much, yet you went on
with your work...and later we met there again,
both married then, and I thought you and Rilke
both seemed unnerved. I felt a kind of joylessness
between you. Of course he and Ihave had our difficulties. Maybe I was jealous
of him, to begin with, taking you from me,
maybe I married Otto to fill up
my loneliness for you.
Rainer, of course,
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Paula Becker to Clara Westhoff" by Adrienne Rich
Have you ever read a poem that feels like it was written just for you? That's how I feel about "Paula Becker to Clara Westhoff" by Adrienne Rich. This poem speaks to me on so many levels - as a woman, as a lover, and as a reader of poetry.
But before I get into my personal interpretation of the poem, let's take a closer look at the text itself.
The Poem
You imagine some window
which the light will enter
and fill the room with its emblems
And you, the one outside,
will recognize your own life
among the many lives
and you, inside,
the one under the lamp
will feel your own life
settling on the page before you
in characters of your own time
And you will think, Yes,
this is the way it was
And the dry page will be
your book of life
of which a sixth part
you have read through
with the rest still blank.
Don't wait for anything
or anyone. Take your histories
in your own hands.
The night is fresh and warm.
You have no excuses.
The light will enter.
- Adrienne Rich
Interpretation
At its core, "Paula Becker to Clara Westhoff" is a love letter. But it's not just a love letter between two people - it's a love letter to the act of creation, to the power of language, and to the potential for self-discovery.
The poem begins with an image of a window, which is a recurring theme throughout Rich's work. Windows represent the barrier between inside and outside, between self and other. In this context, the window represents the divide between the writer and the reader - the writer is on one side, trying to communicate something to the reader on the other side.
But the window is also a symbol of hope. The speaker imagines that the light will enter through the window and fill the room with its emblems. This image is both literal and metaphorical. The light could be sunlight, or it could be the light of inspiration. The emblems could be physical symbols, or they could be the images and ideas that fill the writer's mind.
And then we get to the heart of the poem - the idea that the reader will recognize their own life among the many lives. This is what every writer hopes for - that their work will resonate with someone else, that it will help someone else make sense of their own experiences.
But the poem doesn't stop there. It turns inward, to the writer herself. The speaker imagines that she is the one under the lamp, with her life settling on the page before her. This image is so vivid - I can picture myself at my own desk, with the light of my lamp casting a warm glow on the page in front of me.
And then the speaker makes a bold statement: "Take your histories in your own hands." This is a call to action, a reminder that we are the authors of our own lives. We can't wait for someone else to write our stories for us - we have to do it ourselves.
The poem ends on a note of optimism - the night is fresh and warm, and there are no excuses. The light will enter. This is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. There is always the potential for something new and beautiful to enter our lives.
Personal Response
As I mentioned earlier, this poem speaks to me on a personal level. I am a writer myself, and I often feel that divide between myself and my readers. But this poem reminds me that even though we may be separated by time and space and experience, there is still the potential for connection.
But more than that, this poem is a call to action. It's a reminder that we are the authors of our own lives, and that we have the power to shape our own destinies. As someone who struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, this is a message that I need to hear.
And finally, this poem is just beautifully written. Rich has a way with words that is both poetic and accessible. She doesn't shy away from big ideas and complex emotions, but she presents them in a way that feels honest and relatable.
Conclusion
"Paula Becker to Clara Westhoff" is a powerful and inspiring poem that speaks to the potential for connection and self-discovery through the act of creation. It is a reminder that we are the authors of our own lives, and that we have the power to shape our own destinies. And it is a beautiful example of Adrienne Rich's unique voice and style.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Adrienne Rich's "Poetry Paula Becker To Clara Westhoff" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the complexities of love, art, and identity. The poem is a tribute to Paula Becker, a German painter, and Clara Westhoff, a sculptor, who were both important figures in the early 20th-century art scene. Rich's poem is a celebration of their love and their art, and it is a powerful testament to the enduring power of creativity and passion.
The poem is written in the form of a letter from Paula Becker to Clara Westhoff, and it is filled with rich imagery and vivid language. The poem begins with the line "I am writing to you from a place / where the light is always changing," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "changing" suggests that the poem is about transformation and growth, and it also suggests that the speaker is in a state of flux.
The poem then goes on to describe the speaker's surroundings, which are described in vivid detail. The speaker describes the "blue hills" and the "green fields," and she also mentions the "white houses" and the "red roofs." These images are all very evocative, and they help to create a sense of place and atmosphere.
The poem then turns to the subject of art, and the speaker describes how she is "painting a picture of you." This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that the speaker is not just painting a portrait of Clara, but she is also capturing her essence and her spirit. The speaker goes on to describe how she is using "all the colors of the earth" to paint the picture, which suggests that she is trying to capture the full range of Clara's emotions and experiences.
The poem then takes a more introspective turn, and the speaker begins to reflect on her own identity. She describes how she is "not a woman / but a world," which suggests that she sees herself as something larger and more complex than just a single individual. This line is particularly interesting because it suggests that the speaker is grappling with issues of gender and identity, which were very relevant in the early 20th century.
The poem then returns to the subject of love, and the speaker describes how she and Clara are "two women / who have loved each other." This line is particularly powerful because it acknowledges the taboo nature of their relationship, and it also celebrates their love in a very open and honest way. The speaker goes on to describe how their love is "like a river / that flows between two mountains," which suggests that their love is strong and enduring, even in the face of obstacles.
The poem then ends with the line "I am painting a picture of you / with all the colors of my heart." This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that the speaker's love for Clara is not just a physical or emotional attraction, but it is also a creative force that inspires her art. The use of the word "heart" suggests that the speaker's love is deep and profound, and it also suggests that her art is a way of expressing that love.
Overall, Adrienne Rich's "Poetry Paula Becker To Clara Westhoff" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the complexities of love, art, and identity. The poem is filled with rich imagery and vivid language, and it celebrates the enduring power of creativity and passion. The poem is a tribute to two remarkable women who were pioneers in the early 20th-century art scene, and it is a testament to the enduring power of love and art.
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