'Cape Breton' by Elizabeth Bishop
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A Cold Spring1955Out on the high "bird islands," Ciboux and Hertford,
the razorbill auks and the silly-looking puffins all stand
with their backs to the mainland
in solemn, uneven lines along the cliff's brown grass-frayed edge,
while the few sheep pastured there go "Baaa, baaa."
(Sometimes, frightened by aeroplanes, they stampede
and fall over into the sea or onto the rocks.)
The silken water is weaving and weaving,
disappearing under the mist equally in all directions,
lifted and penetrated now and then
by one shag's dripping serpent-neck,
and somewhere the mist incorporates the pulse,
rapid but unurgent, of a motor boat.The same mist hangs in thin layers
among the valleys and gorges of the mainland
like rotting snow-ice sucked away
almost to spirit; the ghosts of glaciers drift
among those folds and folds of fir: spruce and hackmatack--
dull, dead, deep pea-cock colors,
each riser distinguished from the next
by an irregular nervous saw-tooth edge,
alike, but certain as a stereoscopic view.The wild road clambers along the brink of the coast.
On it stand occasional small yellow bulldozers,
but without their drivers, because today is Sunday.
The little white churches have been dropped into the matted hills
like lost quartz arrowheads.
The road appears to have been abandoned.
Whatever the landscape had of meaning appears to have been abandoned,
unless the road is holding it back, in the interior,
where we cannot see,
where deep lakes are reputed to be,
and disused trails and mountains of rock
and miles of burnt forests, standing in gray scratches
like the admirable scriptures made on stones by stones--
and these regions now have little to say for themselves
except in thousands of light song-sparrow songs floating upward
freely, dispassionately, through the mist, and meshing
in brown-wet, fine torn fish-nets.A small bus comes along, in up-and-down rushes,
packed with people, even to its step.
(On weekdays with groceries, spare automobile parts, and pump parts,
but today only two preachers extra, one carrying his frock coat on ahanger.)
It passes the closed roadside stand, the closed schoolhouse,
where today no flag is flying
from the rough-adzed pole topped with a white china doorknob.
It stops, and a man carrying a baby gets off,
climbs over a stile, and goes down through a small steep meadow,
which establishes its poverty in a snowfall of daisies,
to his invisible house beside the water.The birds keep on singing, a calf bawls, the bus starts.
The thin mist follows
the white mutations of its dream;
an ancient chill is rippling the dark brooks.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Pain of Homecoming in Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poetry, Cape Breton”
As I read Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poetry, Cape Breton,” I am struck by how the poem’s images and themes echo and interconnect, creating a rich and layered portrait of a place and a person. Bishop’s writing captures the beauty and complexity of Cape Breton Island, her childhood home, while also revealing the emotional ambivalence that can accompany a return to one’s roots. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the ways in which Bishop’s poem conveys the mixed feelings of nostalgia, regret, and wonder that can arise when we revisit the places and people of our past.
Images of Cape Breton Island
One of the most striking aspects of “Poetry, Cape Breton” is the vividness and variety of its imagery. Bishop uses sensory details and figurative language to create a multifaceted portrait of the island and its landscape. We see the “green and blue, / the very ash trees dripping, / the swamp mosses, / lichens, / ferns” (lines 7-10), the “great hills / of rust and yellow, / and green” (lines 11-13), and the “red sandstone cliffs / along the shore” (lines 17-18). These descriptions are both specific and evocative, conjuring up a sense of place that is at once physical, emotional, and historical.
Bishop’s images also convey the passage of time and the changes that have occurred on the island. She notes the “unfamiliar sights” (line 2) that greet her, the “fresh paint” (line 3) on the houses, and the “new fences, / just as in childhood” (lines 5-6). These details suggest that the island has evolved and modernized since Bishop’s childhood, yet it still retains elements of its past. The poem’s final image, of the “dazzling sands” (line 20) that “shift and glitter” (line 21), captures this tension between continuity and change. The sands are both timeless and ephemeral, reminding us that even as we revisit the past, it is always slipping away from us.
Themes of Homecoming and Ambivalence
Alongside its rich imagery, “Poetry, Cape Breton” also explores the emotional complexities of returning to one’s roots. Bishop’s speaker is clearly ambivalent about coming back to the island; she notes that “No doubt I passed, / with my usual / cloud of mixed feelings” (lines 1-3). This mixedness is echoed throughout the poem, as Bishop’s speaker reflects on the beauty and pain of returning home.
On the one hand, there is a sense of wonder and awe at the island’s natural beauty. Bishop’s speaker marvels at the “wild iris” (line 14) and the “wonderful birds” (line 15) that she sees, and she notes that “It was like / being born again, / or being healed” (lines 22-24). These moments of joy and renewal suggest that homecoming can be a transformative experience, one that allows us to rediscover and reconnect with the world around us.
On the other hand, there is a pervasive sense of nostalgia and regret in “Poetry, Cape Breton.” Bishop’s speaker is haunted by memories of the past, particularly of her father, who “lies in his grave” (line 16) on the island. She also reflects on the “lost childhood” (line 4) that she can never fully recapture. These moments of sadness and longing reveal the pain and ambivalence that can come with returning to a place that is both familiar and foreign, comforting and unsettling.
Interpretation and Analysis
As I reflect on “Poetry, Cape Breton,” I am struck by the way in which Bishop’s poem embodies the tension between the past and the present. The island is both a physical place and a repository of memory, and Bishop’s speaker moves between these two realms with a sense of both wonder and sadness. At the same time, the poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, as Bishop’s images and themes echo and reverberate throughout the text.
One way in which Bishop achieves this interconnectivity is through the use of repetition and variation. She repeats phrases such as “mixed feelings” and “unfamiliar sights,” creating a sense of pattern and rhythm that reinforces the poem’s themes. She also varies her language, using different words and phrases to describe similar objects or ideas. For example, she describes the “wonderful birds” (line 15) as “little painted / boxes” (lines 16-17), emphasizing the richness and diversity of the natural world.
Another way in which Bishop achieves interconnectivity is through the use of metaphor and personification. She personifies the island, describing it as a “great sleeping / dinosaur” (lines 11-12) that is “waiting” (line 13) for something to happen. This image suggests that the island is both alive and ancient, a place that is full of history and potential. Bishop also uses metaphor to describe the speaker’s emotional state, comparing her “cloud of mixed feelings” (line 3) to a physical object that accompanies her throughout the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Elizabeth Bishop’s “Poetry, Cape Breton” is a rich and complex poem that explores the beauty and pain of homecoming. Through vivid imagery, interconnectivity, and emotional ambivalence, Bishop conveys the mixed feelings of nostalgia, regret, and wonder that can arise when we revisit the places and people of our past. The poem reminds us that home is both a physical place and a repository of memory, and that our relationship to it is always evolving and changing over time. As Bishop’s speaker notes, “It was a great pleasure / to see the again” (lines 25-26), even as she acknowledges the bittersweet nature of the homecoming experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Cape Breton: A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was known for her ability to capture the essence of a place in her poetry. Her poem "Poetry Cape Breton" is a perfect example of this. In this masterpiece, Bishop takes us on a journey to Cape Breton, a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Through her vivid descriptions and powerful imagery, Bishop paints a picture of a place that is both beautiful and haunting.
The poem begins with Bishop describing the landscape of Cape Breton. She talks about the "hillsides purple with heather" and the "sea-wind blowing like a knife." These descriptions immediately transport the reader to this rugged and wild place. Bishop's use of color and sensory language is particularly effective in creating a sense of place. The purple heather and the sharp sea-wind are both vivid and memorable images that stay with the reader long after the poem is finished.
As the poem continues, Bishop shifts her focus to the people of Cape Breton. She describes them as "hard-headed farmers" and "fishermen in oilskins." These are people who are tough and resilient, who have to work hard to survive in this harsh environment. Bishop's admiration for these people is clear in her writing. She sees them as strong and capable, and she respects their way of life.
One of the most striking things about "Poetry Cape Breton" is the way Bishop weaves together the natural landscape and the human landscape. She talks about the "little white houses" that are "huddled against the hillsides." These houses are a part of the landscape, just as much as the hills and the sea. Bishop's ability to connect the human and the natural in this way is one of the things that makes her poetry so powerful.
Another aspect of the poem that stands out is Bishop's use of repetition. She repeats the phrase "Cape Breton" several times throughout the poem, almost like a refrain. This repetition serves to emphasize the importance of this place to Bishop. It is clear that Cape Breton has left a deep impression on her, and she wants to convey that to her readers.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. Bishop writes:
"And always, always, the sea returns to the Cape— clawed at the cliff's foot, hungry and whining."
Here, Bishop personifies the sea, giving it a sense of agency and emotion. The sea is not just a force of nature, but a living thing that is constantly interacting with the land. The image of the sea clawing at the cliff's foot is both powerful and unsettling. It reminds us that nature is not always benevolent, and that the people of Cape Breton must constantly struggle against it.
In conclusion, "Poetry Cape Breton" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. Through her vivid descriptions and powerful imagery, Elizabeth Bishop transports us to a place that is both beautiful and haunting. Her admiration for the people of Cape Breton is clear, and her ability to connect the human and the natural is what makes this poem so powerful. The repetition of the phrase "Cape Breton" serves to emphasize the importance of this place to Bishop, and the final stanza is a poignant reminder of the power of nature. This poem is a testament to Bishop's skill as a poet, and it is a must-read for anyone who loves great literature.
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