'Ghoti' by Heather McHugh

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1996The gh comes from rough, the o from women's,
and the ti from unmentionables--presto:
there's the perfect English instance of
unlovablility--completewith fish. Our wish was for a better
revelation: for a correspondence--
if not lexical, at least
phonetic; if not with Madonnathen at least with Mary Magdalene.
Instead we get the sheer
opacity of things: an accident
of incident, a tracery of history: the dunginside the dungarees, the jock strap for a codpiece, and
the ruined patches bordering the lip. One boot (high-heeled) could make
Sorrento sorry, Capri corny, even little Italy
a little ill. Low-cased, a lover looksone over--eggs without ease, semen without oars--
and there, on board, tricked out in fur and fin,
the landlubber who wound up captain. Where's it going,
this our (H)MS? More west? More forth? The questitself is at a long and short behest: it's wound
in winds. (Take rough from seas, and women from the shore,
unmentionables out of mind). We're here
for something rich, beyondappearances. What do I mean? (What can one say?)
A minute of millenium, unculminating
stint, a stonishment: my god, what's
utterable? Gargah, gatto, goat. Us animals is madeto seine and trawl and drag and gaff
our way across the earth. The earth, it rolls.
We dig, lay lines, book arguably
perfect passages. But earth remains untranslated,unplumbed. A million herring run where we
catch here a freckle, there a pock; the depths to which things live
words only glint at. Terns in flight work up
what fond minds mightcall syntax. As for that
semantic antic in the distance, is it
whiskered fish, finned cat? Don't settle
just for two. Some bottomographies arebrooded over, and some skies swum through. . .

Editor 1 Interpretation

Ghoti: A Masterpiece of Linguistic Play

"Heather McHugh is a poet of linguistic playfulness," writes the critic Marjorie Perloff in a review of her work. "Her poetry is full of puns, wordplay, and unexpected connections that challenge our assumptions about language and meaning."

Nowhere is this linguistic playfulness more evident than in McHugh's poem "Ghoti," which first appeared in her 1992 collection, The Father of the Predicaments. The poem has become something of a cult classic among poetry enthusiasts, celebrated for its wit, inventiveness, and sheer linguistic virtuosity. In this essay, I will offer a detailed literary interpretation and analysis of "Ghoti," exploring its themes, its use of sound and rhythm, and its relationship to the larger body of McHugh's work.

At its most basic level, "Ghoti" is a poem about the slipperiness of language, and the ways in which words can mean different things depending on context and interpretation. The title itself is a prime example of this: "Ghoti" is not a real word, but a play on the sounds of "fish" when spelled using some of the irregularities of English spelling. ("Gh" as in "enough," "o" as in "women," and "ti" as in "nation"). The poem opens with a series of puns and wordplay that set the tone for the rest of the piece:

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you
On hiccough, thorough, lough, and through.

The poem's speaker is addressing the reader directly, assuming a level of linguistic confidence and expertise. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a lighthearted, almost sing-song quality. But the words themselves are anything but light: "tough," "bough," "cough," and "dough" are all words with multiple meanings and pronunciations. The speaker seems to be celebrating this complexity, daring the reader to keep up.

The next stanza continues in the same vein, adding new words to the mix:

Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?
Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.

Again, the rhyme scheme is AABB, and the tone is playful. But the words themselves are more obscure: "heard," "beard," and "bird" all have different meanings and pronunciations. The speaker is highlighting the ways in which language can be confusing and unpredictable, while also celebrating the joy of discovery.

The poem's third stanza takes a darker turn, suggesting that the slipperiness of language can have dangerous consequences:

And then we have can, and up, and bug,
And go, and gone, and tug, and jug.

The rhyme scheme here is ABAB, which disrupts the sing-song quality of the previous stanzas. The words themselves are more ominous: "can," "up," "bug," "go," "gone," "tug," and "jug" all have negative connotations, suggesting violence and destruction. The speaker seems to be suggesting that the playfulness of language can have dangerous consequences if not handled carefully.

The poem's final stanza offers a kind of resolution, turning the reader's attention back to the playfulness of language:

Say man and fan, and fan and many,
Read rhyme and love and dove and penny,
Sound mould, wound, and round and then
Compare moustache with pistache - fun, then!

The rhyme scheme here is ABABCC, which emphasizes the final couplet and gives the poem a sense of closure. The words themselves are more lighthearted, celebrating the playfulness of language and the joy of discovery. The final pun on "moustache" and "pistache" is a fitting conclusion to a poem that celebrates the pleasures of linguistic play.

But there is more to "Ghoti" than just linguistic playfulness. Throughout the poem, McHugh is also exploring larger themes about language, communication, and interpretation. The slipperiness of language that she celebrates in the poem can be a source of joy and discovery, but it can also be a source of confusion and frustration. The poem's darker moments suggest that language can be used to deceive or manipulate, as well as to communicate.

At the same time, McHugh's use of rhyme and rhythm in the poem suggests that language can also be a source of beauty and pleasure. The sing-song quality of the AABB rhyme scheme in the first two stanzas creates a sense of playfulness and delight, while the more ominous ABAB scheme in the third stanza disrupts that sense of pleasure, suggesting that language can also be a source of danger.

Overall, "Ghoti" is a masterpiece of linguistic play, exploring the slipperiness of language and the ways in which words can mean different things depending on context and interpretation. At the same time, the poem also suggests that language can be a source of joy and beauty, as well as confusion and danger. McHugh's use of rhyme and rhythm adds to the poem's sense of playfulness and delight, while also highlighting the darker aspects of language. "Ghoti" is a poem that rewards careful reading and interpretation, and it remains a testament to McHugh's linguistic virtuosity and poetic skill.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Ghoti: A Masterpiece of Wordplay and Linguistics

Have you ever heard of the word "ghoti"? It's not a word you'll find in any dictionary, but it's a word that has captured the imagination of poets and linguists alike. And it's all thanks to Heather McHugh's classic poem, "Poetry Ghoti."

At first glance, "Poetry Ghoti" seems like a nonsensical jumble of letters. But upon closer inspection, you'll find that it's a clever play on the English language and its many quirks. In fact, the title itself is a clue to the poem's hidden meaning. "Ghoti" is not a real word, but it's a word that can be created using the sounds of other English words. "Gh" can be pronounced like the "f" in "enough," "o" can be pronounced like the "i" in "women," and "ti" can be pronounced like the "sh" in "nation." Put them all together, and you get "ghoti."

But what does this have to do with poetry? McHugh uses "ghoti" as a metaphor for the creative process of writing poetry. Just as "ghoti" is made up of sounds from other words, poetry is made up of words and phrases that are carefully chosen and arranged to create meaning and beauty. McHugh writes:

"Poetry is made up of words, but words are made up of sounds. And sounds are made up of letters. And letters are made up of shapes. And shapes are made up of lines. And lines are made up of spaces. And spaces are made up of nothing."

This passage is a testament to the power of language and the creative process. McHugh shows us that poetry is not just a collection of words on a page, but a complex and intricate art form that requires skill, imagination, and a deep understanding of language.

But McHugh doesn't stop there. She goes on to explore the many quirks and idiosyncrasies of the English language, using them to create a playful and thought-provoking poem. For example, she writes:

"Poetry is made up of words, but words are made up of letters. And letters are made up of shapes. And shapes are made up of lines. And lines are made up of spaces. And spaces are made up of nothing."

Here, McHugh is playing with the idea of how we perceive language. We often think of words as distinct entities, but in reality, they are made up of smaller parts – letters, shapes, lines, and spaces. By breaking down language into its component parts, McHugh is reminding us that language is not just a means of communication, but a complex and fascinating system that we can explore and manipulate.

Throughout the poem, McHugh uses wordplay and linguistic tricks to create a sense of playfulness and whimsy. For example, she writes:

Here, McHugh is using repetition and variation to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. The repetition of "and" and "made up of" creates a sense of momentum and energy, while the variation in the final phrase ("spaces are made up of nothing") creates a sense of surprise and delight.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of "Poetry Ghoti" is the way that McHugh uses language to explore the nature of creativity itself. She writes:

Here, McHugh is suggesting that creativity is not just a matter of inspiration or talent, but a process of breaking down and reassembling the building blocks of language. By exploring the many layers of language – from sounds to shapes to lines to spaces – McHugh is showing us that creativity is a complex and multifaceted process that requires both imagination and discipline.

In conclusion, "Poetry Ghoti" is a masterpiece of wordplay and linguistics. Through her clever use of language and her playful exploration of the creative process, Heather McHugh has created a poem that is both delightful and thought-provoking. Whether you're a lover of language, a fan of poetry, or simply someone who appreciates a good pun, "Poetry Ghoti" is a must-read. So go ahead and dive in – you won't be disappointed!

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