'Florida' by Elizabeth Bishop
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North & South1946The state with the prettiest name,
the state that floats in brackish water,
held together by mangrave roots
that bear while living oysters in clusters,and when dead strew white swamps with skeletons,dotted as if bombarded, with green hummocks
like ancient cannon-balls sprouting grass.The state full of long S-shaped birds, blue and white,
and unseen hysterical birds who rush up the scale
every time in a tantrum.
Tanagers embarrassed by their flashiness,
and pelicans whose delight it is to clown;
who coast for fun on the strong tidal currents
in and out among the mangrove islands
and stand on the sand-bars drying their damp gold wings
on sun-lit evenings.
Enormous turtles, helpless and mild,
die and leave their barnacled shells on the beaches,
and their large white skulls with round eye-sockets
twice the size of a man's.
The palm trees clatter in the stiff breeze
like the bills of the pelicans. The tropical rain comes down
to freshen the tide-looped strings of fading shells:
Job's Tear, the Chinese Alphabet, the scarce Junonia,parti-colored pectins and Ladies' Ears,
arranged as on a gray rag of rotted calico,the buried Indian Princess's skirt;
with these the monotonous, endless, sagging coast-line
is delicately ornamented.Thirty or more buzzards are drifting down, down, down,
over something they have spotted in the swamp,
in circles like stirred-up flakes of sediment
sinking through water.
Smoke from woods-fires filters fine blue solvents.
On stumps and dead trees the charring is like black velvet.
The mosquitoes
go hunting to the tune of their ferocious obbligatos.
After dark, the fireflies map the heavens in the marsh
until the moon rises.
Cold white, not bright, the moonlight is coarse-meshed,
and the careless, corrupt state is all black specks
too far apart, and ugly whites; the poorest
post-card of itself.
After dark, the pools seem to have slipped away.
The alligator, who has five distinct calls:
friendliness, love, mating, war, and a warning--
whimpers and speaks in the throat
of the Indian Princess.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Florida" by Elizabeth Bishop: A Masterpiece of Poetic Observation
When it comes to poetry, few writers have been able to capture the essence of a place with as much precision and depth as Elizabeth Bishop. Her poem "Florida" is a prime example of her ability to use language to convey the sights, sounds, and sensations of a particular environment. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and symbolism of "Florida," and argue that it is a masterpiece of poetic observation.
Themes of "Florida"
At its core, "Florida" is a meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world. The poem opens with the speaker observing the "little green snake" that has made its way into the house where she is staying. The snake is a symbol of the natural world encroaching upon the human world, and the speaker's reaction to it is one of fear and discomfort.
But as the poem progresses, the speaker begins to take notice of the other creatures that populate the Florida landscape: the lizards, the palmetto bugs, the pelicans. She becomes more attuned to the rhythms of nature, and begins to see the beauty in the creatures that she initially found repulsive.
At the same time, however, the poem also highlights the destructive impact that humans have on the natural world. The speaker notes that the "houses in Florida are tiled / to keep the heat out," suggesting that humans are actively trying to separate themselves from the environment around them. This separation is further emphasized in the final stanza, where the speaker states that she is "driving back north again / convinced that rain is a better crop / than oranges or men."
Structure of "Florida"
The structure of "Florida" is deceptively simple. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. There is no rhyme scheme, and the language is straightforward and unadorned. But despite its apparent simplicity, the poem is carefully structured to convey its themes and message.
The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the tone of the poem. The second stanza introduces the theme of the relationship between humans and the natural world, while the third stanza explores this theme in more detail. The final stanza provides a conclusion to the poem, and leaves the reader with a sense of the speaker's disillusionment with the world around her.
Symbolism in "Florida"
Throughout the poem, Bishop uses symbolism to convey her message. The little green snake in the first stanza is a symbol of the natural world, while the pelican in the third stanza represents the beauty and resilience of that world. The palmetto bugs, lizards, and other creatures that populate the poem are symbols of the interconnectedness of all living things.
But perhaps the most powerful symbol in the poem is the rain. The speaker's final statement that "rain is a better crop / than oranges or men" suggests that rain represents the natural world, which is more valuable and necessary than the human world. The fact that rain is a crop also suggests that humans have a tendency to see the world around them in terms of its usefulness to them, rather than appreciating it for its own intrinsic value.
Interpretation of "Florida"
At its core, "Florida" is a meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the destructive impact that humans have on that world. The poem highlights the beauty and resilience of nature, but also the ways in which humans try to separate themselves from it. The speaker's disillusionment with the world around her suggests that she sees little hope for the future, unless humans can learn to appreciate and value the natural world.
But despite its serious themes, "Florida" is also a poem of great beauty and lyricism. Bishop's language is spare and unadorned, but her observations are precise and evocative. She uses imagery and symbolism to convey complex ideas in a way that is both accessible and deeply affecting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Florida" is a masterpiece of poetic observation. It explores complex themes of humans and nature, and uses language and imagery to convey those themes in a way that is both accessible and deeply affecting. Bishop's ability to capture the essence of a place is unparalleled, and "Florida" is a testament to her skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Florida: An Ode to the Sunshine State
Elizabeth Bishop's Poetry Florida is a classic poem that captures the essence of the Sunshine State. The poem is a tribute to the beauty and diversity of Florida, and it celebrates the state's unique culture, landscape, and wildlife. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in Poetry Florida, and we will analyze the poem's significance in the context of Bishop's oeuvre.
The poem opens with a vivid description of the Florida landscape, as Bishop writes, "The state with the prettiest name, / the state that floats in brackish water, / held together by mangrove roots / that bear while living oysters in clusters." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Bishop uses rich imagery and sensory details to evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of Florida. The use of alliteration in "prettiest name" and "brackish water" adds to the musicality of the poem, and the juxtaposition of the delicate mangrove roots with the rough oyster clusters creates a sense of contrast and tension.
The second stanza of the poem focuses on the wildlife of Florida, as Bishop describes the "pelicans with their ungainly beaks / scudding across the water" and the "alligators basking on the bank." The use of personification in "scudding" and "basking" gives the animals a sense of agency and personality, and the imagery of the pelicans and alligators creates a sense of movement and vitality. Bishop also mentions the "turtles on logs, / their backs decorated with designs / that suggest the cities under the sea / where they will spend their future," which highlights the interconnectedness of the natural world and the human world.
The third stanza of the poem shifts focus to the human culture of Florida, as Bishop writes, "The state that floats in phosphorous, / that proves how necessary it is to write / poems about improbable subjects." This stanza is significant because it acknowledges the importance of poetry in capturing the essence of a place or a culture. Bishop suggests that Florida is an "improbable subject" for poetry because of its perceived superficiality or kitschiness, but she also implies that it is precisely because of this superficiality that Florida is worth writing about. By celebrating the state's unique culture and landscape, Bishop is able to create a sense of pride and identity for Floridians.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the natural world, as Bishop describes the "mangrove islands / clustered like green brains in the water" and the "white herons got up as angels." The use of metaphor in "green brains" and "angels" creates a sense of wonder and awe, and the imagery of the mangrove islands and white herons is both beautiful and haunting. Bishop also mentions the "black cormorants / and the parrots flashing tropical colors," which adds to the sense of diversity and vibrancy in Florida's wildlife.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem brings the focus back to the human culture of Florida, as Bishop writes, "The state with the prettiest name / deserves another poem. / Something more than this, / something more written." This final stanza is significant because it suggests that Bishop's poem is just one of many possible poems about Florida. By ending the poem with a call to action, Bishop encourages other poets and writers to explore the beauty and complexity of Florida in their own work.
In terms of language and style, Poetry Florida is characteristic of Bishop's oeuvre. Bishop was known for her precise and evocative use of language, and this poem is no exception. The poem is full of sensory details and vivid imagery, and Bishop's use of metaphor and personification creates a sense of depth and complexity. The poem is also notable for its musicality, as Bishop uses alliteration, assonance, and rhyme to create a sense of rhythm and melody.
In conclusion, Poetry Florida is a classic poem that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Sunshine State. Through her use of rich imagery and precise language, Bishop captures the essence of Florida's landscape, wildlife, and human culture. The poem is significant not only for its aesthetic value, but also for its role in creating a sense of identity and pride for Floridians. As Bishop suggests in the final stanza of the poem, there are many more poems to be written about Florida, but Poetry Florida will always be a shining example of the power of poetry to capture the essence of a place.
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