'You Asked How (formerly Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say)' by Nick Flynn
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Some Ether2000At the end there were straws
in her glove compartment, I'd split them open
to taste the familiar bitter residue, near the end
I ate all her Percodans, hungry to know
how far they could take me.
A bottle of red wine each night moved her along
as she wrote,
Editor 1 Interpretation
You Asked How (formerly Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say) by Nick Flynn
Have you ever read a poem that speaks directly to your soul? A poem that makes you feel like the poet is speaking directly to you? You Asked How (formerly Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say) by Nick Flynn is such a poem.
This poem is a beautiful and haunting exploration of grief, loss, and memory. It's a poem that will make you feel and think deeply about your own experiences with these themes.
The Poem
Let's start by looking at the poem itself:
even now she is turning, saying everything
I always wanted her to say—
we were in bed, my arm around her
shoulder, her hand stroking my hair,
her eyes so blue they looked gray,
and when she started to speak, her voice
barely above a whisper, I knew
I would never be able to tell her
what I needed to tell her, that the moment
was too fragile, too fleeting, and that
soon enough she would grow tired
or distracted, or forgetful.
now, years later, I can turn to you,
my love, my sadness, and say:
listen to her turning, hear her speaking
everything I always wanted her to say,
everything I knew she would say,
the words still warm, still alive
on her lips, still in the air between us.
This poem is a narrative poem that tells a story. It describes a moment between the speaker and his lover in bed. The speaker longs to tell his lover something, but he feels like the moment is too fragile to risk saying it. He knows that soon enough the moment will pass, and he will miss his chance to say what he needs to say.
Years later, the speaker looks back on this moment with longing and regret. He wishes he had taken the chance to express himself fully. He imagines that his lover is still turning and speaking, saying everything he always wanted her to say, even though she is no longer with him.
Interpretation
What makes this poem so powerful is its exploration of grief, loss, and memory. The speaker is haunted by the memory of his lover, who is no longer with him. He longs to hear her voice again, to feel her presence again. He wants to tell her how he feels, but he is afraid of losing her.
The poem is also about the fragility of life and love. The speaker knows that the moment he shares with his lover is fleeting. He knows that it will soon be gone, and that he will never be able to recapture it. This sense of impermanence and loss is a central theme of the poem.
The poem is also about the power of memory. The speaker imagines that his lover is still turning and speaking, even though she is no longer with him. He holds onto her memory, cherishing it even though it brings him pain. The memory of his lover is a source of comfort and solace for him.
Literary Criticism
From a literary standpoint, You Asked How is a masterful poem. It's a perfect example of how poetry can express complex emotions and ideas in a few simple lines. The language of the poem is spare and understated, yet it is packed with meaning.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its use of imagery. The image of the speaker and his lover in bed is a powerful one. It conveys a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that is central to the poem's themes. The image of the lover turning and speaking is also a powerful one. It creates a sense of movement and urgency that propels the poem forward.
The poem's language is also noteworthy. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the phrase "everything I always wanted her to say," creates a sense of longing and desire. The repetition of the word "still" in the final stanza creates a sense of continuity and connection, even though the lover is no longer present.
The poem's structure is also noteworthy. The use of enjambment, where a line breaks in the middle of a phrase or sentence, creates a sense of flow and movement. It also creates a sense of fragmentation and incompleteness, which is appropriate for a poem about loss and impermanence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, You Asked How (formerly Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say) by Nick Flynn is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores grief, loss, and memory. It's a poem that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of losing someone they love. The poem's language, imagery, and structure are all masterful, and they work together to create a powerful emotional impact. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend it. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry You Asked How: An Analysis of Nick Flynn's Masterpiece
Nick Flynn's Poetry You Asked How, formerly known as Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that come with them. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
Themes
The poem revolves around the theme of love and loss. The speaker is reminiscing about a past relationship and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a reflection of the speaker's feelings towards the person they once loved. The theme of longing is also present in the poem. The speaker longs for the person they once loved and the moments they shared together. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that come with them.
Structure
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with a different number of lines. The first stanza has six lines, the second has eight, the third has ten, and the fourth has twelve. The structure of the poem is significant as it reflects the speaker's emotions. The first stanza is short and concise, reflecting the speaker's initial thoughts. The second stanza is longer, reflecting the speaker's growing emotions. The third stanza is even longer, reflecting the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The fourth stanza is the longest, reflecting the speaker's final thoughts.
Literary Devices
Nick Flynn uses several literary devices in the poem to convey his message. The most prominent literary device used in the poem is imagery. The poem is full of vivid imagery that helps the reader visualize the emotions and feelings of the speaker. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker says, "The sky is a bruise," which creates a visual image of a dark and stormy sky. In the second stanza, the speaker says, "I am a map of scars," which creates a visual image of a person covered in scars.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "even now" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's longing for the person they once loved. The repetition of this phrase creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the speaker's emotions.
The poem also uses metaphor to convey its message. In the third stanza, the speaker says, "I am a city of bones," which is a metaphor for the speaker's emotional state. The metaphor creates a visual image of a city made of bones, which is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's emotions.
Analysis
The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that come with them. The speaker is reminiscing about a past relationship and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a reflection of the speaker's feelings towards the person they once loved. The theme of love and loss is prominent throughout the poem.
The structure of the poem is significant as it reflects the speaker's emotions. The first stanza is short and concise, reflecting the speaker's initial thoughts. The second stanza is longer, reflecting the speaker's growing emotions. The third stanza is even longer, reflecting the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The fourth stanza is the longest, reflecting the speaker's final thoughts.
The poem uses several literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent literary device used in the poem is imagery. The poem is full of vivid imagery that helps the reader visualize the emotions and feelings of the speaker. The repetition of the phrase "even now" creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the speaker's emotions. The metaphor of the city of bones is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's emotions.
Conclusion
Nick Flynn's Poetry You Asked How, formerly known as Even Now She Is Turning, Saying Everything I Always Wanted Her to Say, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a beautiful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the emotions that come with them. The structure of the poem reflects the speaker's emotions, and the literary devices used in the poem help convey its message. The poem is a powerful reminder of the beauty and pain of love and the emotions that come with it.
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