'The Remains' by Mark Strand
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I empty myself of the names of others. I empty my pockets.
I empty my shoes and leave them beside the road.
At night I turn back the clocks;
I open the family album and look at myself as a boy.What good does it do? The hours have done their job.
I say my own name. I say goodbye.
The words follow each other downwind.
I love my wife but send her away.My parents rise out of their thrones
into the milky rooms of clouds. How can I sing?
Time tells me what I am. I change and I am the same.
I empty myself of my life and my life remains.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Remains by Mark Strand: A Literary Analysis
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling unsure of what just happened? That's how I felt after reading "The Remains" by Mark Strand. At first glance, the poem seems straightforward, but as you delve deeper, you realize there are multiple interpretations. In this literary analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in "The Remains" to uncover its meaning.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's first take a look at the poem.
I empty myself of the names of others.
I empty my pockets.
I empty my shoes and leave them beside the road.
At night I turn back the clocks;
I open the family album and look at myself as a boy.
What good does it do?
The hours have done their job.
I say my own name. I say goodbye.
The words follow each other downwind.
I love my wife but send her away.
My boots squish like soggy cardboard
on the soft sand. I am alone.
I am a man in this landscape
of lost buttons,
a survivor among
the ruins of your gift.
Theme
The theme of "The Remains" is self-discovery and acceptance. The speaker is on a journey of self-discovery, and he is shedding everything that does not belong to him. He empties himself of the names of others, his pockets, and his shoes. He is shedding his past and everything that is not him.
The theme of acceptance is also present in the poem. The speaker acknowledges that the hours have done their job, and he says goodbye to himself. It's as if he is accepting himself for who he is, flaws and all.
Imagery
One of the most striking images in the poem is the speaker emptying his shoes and leaving them beside the road. This image represents the speaker shedding everything that does not belong to him. He is leaving behind the shoes that have carried him through life so far and venturing out into the world barefoot.
The image of the speaker turning back the clocks at night and looking at himself as a boy in the family album is also significant. It's as if he is trying to go back in time to a simpler time when he was just a boy. He is trying to connect with his past and understand who he is.
The image of the speaker's boots squishing like soggy cardboard on the soft sand is also significant. It's as if the speaker is sinking into the landscape, into himself. He is alone, but he is also at peace with himself.
Literary Devices
There are multiple literary devices used in "The Remains" that add to its meaning.
Repetition
The repetition of the word "empty" is significant. The speaker is emptying himself of everything that does not belong to him. He is shedding his past and everything that is not him. The repetition of the word emphasizes the importance of this act.
Antithesis
The use of antithesis is also significant in the poem. The speaker says "I love my wife but send her away." This use of antithesis emphasizes the speaker's internal struggle. He loves his wife, but he needs to be alone to discover who he is.
Personification
The personification of the words following each other downwind is significant. It's as if the words have a life of their own and are following the speaker on his journey of self-discovery.
Interpretation
The interpretation of "The Remains" is left up to the reader. The poem can be interpreted as a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The speaker is shedding everything that does not belong to him and accepting himself for who he is.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the human condition. We all have a past that we need to shed to discover who we truly are. We all struggle with accepting ourselves for who we are and need to come to peace with ourselves.
Conclusion
"The Remains" by Mark Strand is a powerful poem that explores the themes of self-discovery and acceptance. The use of imagery and literary devices adds to the poem's meaning and emphasizes the speaker's internal struggle. The poem can be interpreted in multiple ways, and its meaning is left up to the reader.
Have you ever felt like the speaker in "The Remains?" Have you ever felt the need to shed your past and discover who you truly are? This poem speaks to the human condition and the need for self-discovery and acceptance.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Remains by Mark Strand is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many readers over the years. This poem is a beautiful and haunting reflection on the nature of life and death, and the way that we all leave behind traces of ourselves in the world. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and imagery of The Remains, and examine how Strand uses language to create a powerful and evocative piece of poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene in which he comes across the remains of a bird. The bird is dead, and all that is left of it is its feathers and bones. The speaker is struck by the beauty of the bird's remains, and he begins to reflect on the nature of life and death. He wonders what it means to leave behind a trace of oneself in the world, and he considers the idea that all of us are just "remains" waiting to be discovered.
One of the most striking aspects of The Remains is the way that Strand uses imagery to create a vivid and evocative picture of the bird's remains. He describes the feathers as "a handful of bright arrows," and the bones as "a white fan opened on the grass." These images are both beautiful and haunting, and they create a sense of wonder and awe in the reader. The feathers and bones are not just lifeless objects, but they are imbued with a sense of mystery and magic.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the idea of death and what it means to leave behind a trace of oneself in the world. He wonders if the bird's remains are a symbol of something greater, and he considers the idea that all of us are just "remains" waiting to be discovered. This idea is both comforting and unsettling, as it suggests that our lives are fleeting and that we will all eventually be forgotten.
Despite the melancholy tone of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and beauty in The Remains. The speaker is struck by the beauty of the bird's remains, and he finds comfort in the idea that even in death, there is still something beautiful and meaningful to be found. This idea is captured in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker reflects on the way that the bird's remains have become a part of the natural world:
"And I am singing, singing of how the world will end, not in a bang, but in a whisper, and how, in the end, all that we have left are the remains of love and the echoes of our song."
These lines are both haunting and beautiful, and they capture the essence of the poem perfectly. The idea that all that we have left in the end are the "remains of love and the echoes of our song" is a powerful and moving one, and it speaks to the idea that even in death, there is still something beautiful and meaningful to be found.
In conclusion, The Remains by Mark Strand is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the nature of existence. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Strand creates a sense of wonder and awe in the reader, and he captures the essence of the human experience in a way that is both moving and profound. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates beautiful writing, The Remains is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
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