'Examples (August 27)' by David Lehman


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The last Campbell's tomato soup canof the twentieth century is going tothe Andy Warhol Museum in PittsburghThat is an example of a sentenceAnother is this from a CEO in Fortune"You die in either case, but this way you getto do it proactively," where the adverbmakes the sentence I'm walking amidthe tourists on Bleecker Street the riffraffthe students with backpacks the bums anda good old-fashioned New York feelinghits me from head to toe a misanthropic snarlthe urge to kick a stranger in the pants,and if you don't smoke you feel as if you do

Editor 1 Interpretation

August 27 by David Lehman

David Lehman's poem "August 27" is a masterful exploration of the power of memory and nostalgia. The poem's structure, imagery, and use of language all work together to create a haunting and evocative portrait of a lost moment in time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements of "August 27" and their significance in the poem's overall meaning.

Structure

The structure of "August 27" is crucial to its impact. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing a specific moment in time: "It was August 27, 1979, / the day before the first day of school." The second stanza delves deeper into the speaker's memories of that day, while the third stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of wistful nostalgia.

The use of three stanzas creates a sense of progression, moving from a simple statement of fact to a deeper exploration of the speaker's emotions and memories. The repetition of the six-line structure also creates a sense of stability and balance, reflecting the speaker's desire to hold onto this moment in time.

Imagery

The imagery in "August 27" is both vivid and elusive. The poem is filled with sensory details that create a vivid picture of the scene: "the sky was blue as a robin's egg," "The grass was still wet with dew," "the sun was a hot brass button." These details serve to anchor the poem in a specific time and place, while also evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing.

At the same time, the imagery in "August 27" is also elusive and suggestive. The speaker describes "the feeling of possibility / that hung in the air like a ripe fruit," creating a sense of something intangible and ephemeral that is just out of reach. This feeling of possibility is contrasted with the speaker's memories of the past, which are equally elusive: "I remember / but cannot quite recall." The use of imagery in "August 27" serves to create a sense of both clarity and ambiguity, reflecting the complex emotions of the speaker.

Language

The language in "August 27" is simple and direct, but also rich and evocative. The poem is filled with sensory details and vivid imagery, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The use of repetition is also significant, with the repeated phrase "August 27" serving as a kind of anchor for the poem.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem's language is its use of metaphor. The speaker compares the sky to a robin's egg, the sun to a hot brass button, and the feeling of possibility to a ripe fruit. These comparisons serve to create a sense of depth and complexity in the poem, while also evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing.

Interpretation

At its core, "August 27" is a poem about the power of memory and nostalgia. The speaker is looking back on a specific moment in time, filled with the promise of a new school year and the excitement of a fresh start. This moment is imbued with a sense of possibility and potential, represented by the feeling of ripe fruit hanging in the air.

At the same time, the speaker is also aware of the limitations of memory. The memories of that day are elusive and fragmentary, as if the speaker is trying to hold onto something that is slipping away. The repetition of the phrase "I remember / but cannot quite recall" reflects this sense of longing and frustration.

Ultimately, "August 27" is a poem about the tension between memory and reality. The speaker is trying to hold onto a moment in time that is filled with the promise of the future, even as that promise fades into the past. The poem's structure, imagery, and language all work together to create a powerful and evocative portrait of this moment, capturing both its beauty and its melancholy.

Conclusion

David Lehman's "August 27" is a masterful exploration of memory and nostalgia, using a combination of structure, imagery, and language to create a haunting and evocative portrait of a lost moment in time. The poem's vivid sensory details and rich metaphors create a sense of immediacy and intimacy, while also evoking a sense of wistful longing. Ultimately, "August 27" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the fleeting moments of life and imbue them with meaning and beauty.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way for people to express themselves through words and emotions. David Lehman's classic Poetry Examples (August 27) is a perfect example of how poetry can be used to convey complex emotions and ideas.

The poem begins with the line, "The world is too much with us." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the world is overwhelming and that we are disconnected from nature. This idea is further explored in the next few lines, where Lehman writes, "late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers."

These lines suggest that we are too focused on material possessions and that we are not taking the time to appreciate the beauty of nature. Lehman is suggesting that we need to slow down and take a moment to appreciate the world around us.

The next few lines of the poem are particularly powerful. Lehman writes, "Little we see in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" These lines suggest that we have lost touch with nature and that we have given our hearts to material possessions. The phrase "sordid boon" suggests that our obsession with material possessions is a corrupting influence on our lives.

The poem then takes a turn, and Lehman writes, "This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; / The winds that will be howling at all hours, / And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers." These lines suggest that nature is still beautiful and that it is waiting for us to appreciate it. The phrase "up-gathered now like sleeping flowers" suggests that nature is waiting for us to wake up and appreciate its beauty.

The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. Lehman writes, "For this, for everything, we are out of tune; / It moves us not. –Great God! I'd rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; / So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, / Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn." These lines suggest that we are out of touch with nature and that we need to reconnect with it. The phrase "I'd rather be / A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn" suggests that we need to go back to a simpler time when we were more in touch with nature.

In conclusion, David Lehman's classic Poetry Examples (August 27) is a powerful poem that explores our relationship with nature. It suggests that we are too focused on material possessions and that we have lost touch with the beauty of the world around us. The poem encourages us to slow down and appreciate the world around us. It is a reminder that we need to reconnect with nature if we want to live fulfilling lives.

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