'Counting Sheep' by Russell Edson
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A scientist has a test tube full of sheep. Hewonders if he should try to shrink a pasturefor them.They are like grains of rice.He wonders if it is possible to shrink somethingout of existence.He wonders if the sheep are aware of their tininess,if they have any sense of scale. Perhaps they thinkthe test tube is a glass barn ...He wonders what he should do with them; theycertainly have less meat and wool than ordinarysheep. Has he reduced their commercial value?He wonders if they could be used as a substitutefor rice, a sort of wolly rice . . .He wonders if he shouldn't rub them into a red pastebetween his fingers.He wonders if they are breeding, or if any of themhave died.He puts them under a microscope, and falls asleepcounting them . . .
Editor 1 Interpretation
Counting Sheep: A Surrealist Masterpiece
If you're looking for a poem that will make you question everything you thought you knew about poetry, Counting Sheep by Russell Edson is the one for you. This surrealist masterpiece is not just a poem, it's an experience. It's full of strange and unexpected images, and it will take you on a journey that you'll never forget.
The Setting
The poem begins with a seemingly innocent image of a man counting sheep. But things quickly take a turn for the weird. The man is counting sheep in his bedroom, but the sheep are not outside. They're inside with him. And they're not just any sheep, they're blue sheep.
Why are the sheep blue? Why are they in the man's bedroom? We don't know. But we don't need to know. That's the beauty of surrealism. It's all about the strangeness of the images, and the way they make us feel.
The Characters
There are only two characters in this poem: the man and the sheep. But they're not just any man and sheep. The man is "a man who has fallen in love with his own hallucination." This immediately sets the tone for the poem. We know we're not dealing with reality here. We're in the realm of the surreal.
The sheep are also not ordinary sheep. They're "blue sheep without legs." This is a striking image, and it immediately makes us question what we think we know about sheep. Sheep are supposed to have legs, right? But in this poem, they don't. And that's what makes it so fascinating.
The Plot
There isn't really a plot to this poem, in the traditional sense. It's more like a series of surreal images that are strung together to create a mood. The man counts the blue sheep, and as he counts, he becomes more and more obsessed with them. He even begins to see them everywhere he goes.
At one point, the man tries to leave his bedroom, but he can't. The sheep are blocking the door. This is a powerful image that speaks to the man's obsession with the sheep. He's trapped by them, both physically and mentally.
The Themes
There are several themes at play in this poem. The most obvious one is obsession. The man's obsession with the blue sheep is all-consuming. It's taken over his life, and he can't escape it.
But there's also a theme of reality vs. perception. The man is seeing things that aren't really there. He's hallucinating. And yet, to him, these things are real. They're as real as anything else in his life. This speaks to the power of our perceptions, and how they shape our reality.
The Language
The language in this poem is simple, but powerful. Edson doesn't use flowery language or complex metaphors. Instead, he relies on the power of the images themselves. The image of the blue, legless sheep is enough to make us question everything we know about reality.
But there are also moments of humor in the poem. The man's obsession with the sheep is so absurd that it's almost funny. And yet, there's a darkness to the humor. We know that the man is trapped by his obsession, and that it's not a laughing matter.
The Conclusion
Counting Sheep is a poem that will stay with you long after you've read it. It's a powerful exploration of obsession, reality, and perception. It's a reminder that the world is not always what it seems, and that our perceptions can shape our reality in unexpected ways.
If you're looking for a poem that will challenge your perceptions of what poetry can be, look no further than Counting Sheep. It's a surreal masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Counting Sheep: An Analysis of Russell Edson's Classic
Russell Edson's "Poetry Counting Sheep" is a classic poem that has captivated readers for decades. The poem is a surrealistic masterpiece that explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker counting sheep in an attempt to fall asleep. However, the sheep are not ordinary sheep. They are "sheep with human eyes" that "stare at the speaker with a human look." This surrealistic image sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately draws the reader into the strange and unsettling world of the poem.
As the speaker continues to count the sheep, they begin to multiply and fill the room. The speaker becomes overwhelmed by the sheer number of sheep and their unblinking eyes. This image of the sheep multiplying and filling the room is a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of loneliness and isolation. The sheep represent the thoughts and emotions that the speaker is unable to escape from.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the sheep begin to attack the speaker. They "gnash their teeth" and "tear at the speaker's flesh." This violent imagery is a metaphor for the speaker's own inner turmoil and the self-destructive thoughts that they are unable to escape from. The sheep represent the speaker's own demons that they are unable to confront.
Despite the violence and chaos of the sheep, the speaker remains calm and detached. They continue to count the sheep, even as they are being attacked. This detachment is a reflection of the speaker's own emotional numbness and their inability to connect with others.
The poem ends with the speaker finally falling asleep, but not before the sheep have completely taken over the room. The final image of the poem is of the speaker being consumed by the sheep, a metaphor for the speaker's own self-destruction.
The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The repetition of the counting of the sheep creates a sense of rhythm and structure that contrasts with the chaotic and surreal imagery of the poem.
Edson's use of literary devices is masterful. The surrealistic imagery of the sheep with human eyes is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's own inner demons. The violent imagery of the sheep attacking the speaker is a metaphor for the speaker's own self-destructive thoughts. The repetition of the counting of the sheep creates a sense of rhythm and structure that contrasts with the chaotic and surreal imagery of the poem.
In conclusion, "Poetry Counting Sheep" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the human condition. Edson's use of surrealistic imagery and literary devices creates a sense of unease and discomfort that draws the reader into the strange and unsettling world of the poem. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest and darkest aspects of the human psyche.
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