'California Plush' by Frank Bidart
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In the Western Night: Collected Poems 1965-19901973
The only thing I miss about Los Angelesis the Hollywood Freeway at midnight, windows down and
radio blaring
bearing right into the center of the city, the Capitol Tower
on the right, and beyond it, Hollywood Boulevard
blazing--pimps, surplus stores, footprints of the stars--descending through the cityfast as the law would allowthrough the lights, then rising to the stack
out of the city
to the stack where lanes are stacked six deepand you on top; the airnow clean, for a moment weightlesswithout memories, orneed for a past.The need for the pastis so much at the center of my life
I write this poem to record my discovery of it,
my reconciliation.It was in Bishop, the room was done
in California plush: we had gone into the coffee shop, were told
you could only get a steak in the bar:I hesitated,
not wanting to be an occasion of temptation for my fatherbut he wanted to, so we entereda dark room, with amber water glasses, walnut
tables, captain's chairs,
plastic doilies, papier-mâché bas-relief wall ballerinas,
German memorial plates "bought on a trip to Europe,"
Puritan crosshatch green-yellow wallpaper,
frilly shades, cowhidebooths--I thought of Cambridge:the lovely congruent eleganceof Revolutionary architecture, even ofersatz thirties Georgianseemed alien, a threat, sign
of all I was not--to bode order and lucidityas an ideal, if not reality--not this California plush, whichalsoI was not.And so I made myself an Easterner,
finding it, after all, more like me
than I had let myself hope.And now, staring into the embittered face ofmy father,again, for two weeks, as twice a year,I was back.The waitress asked us if we wanted a drink.
Grimly, I waited until he said no...Before the tribunal of the world I submit the following
document:Nancy showed it to us,
in her apartment at the model,
as she waited month by month
for the property settlement, her children grown
and working for their father,
at fifty-three now alone,a drink in her hand:as my father said,
"They keep a drink in her hand":Editor 1 Interpretation
High-Intensity Emotion: A Literary Criticism of Frank Bidart's California Plush
Frank Bidart's California Plush is a poem of high-intensity emotions that takes the reader on a journey through the speaker's psyche. Bidart, like many poets, has a unique style that is characterized by his use of language, structure, and themes. In this literary criticism, we will explore these elements and attempt to interpret the meaning behind this powerful poem.
The Poem
California Plush is a long and complex poem that is divided into four sections. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it lacks a regular rhyme scheme or meter. The lack of a regular structure adds to the chaotic and intense nature of the poem.
The poem starts with the speaker reflecting on his childhood and his relationship with his mother. He describes the plush carpet, which is a metaphor for the comfortable life that he lived in California. The carpet represents safety, security, and luxury. However, the speaker also feels trapped by this lifestyle, and he longs for something more.
The second section of the poem describes the speaker's sexual awakening. He realizes that he is gay, and this realization is both liberating and terrifying. He is afraid of what his family and society will think of him, and he is also afraid of the consequences of being gay.
The third section of the poem deals with the speaker's relationship with his lover. The speaker is deeply in love with his partner, but their relationship is fraught with tension and conflict. The speaker is afraid of losing his partner, and he is also afraid of being alone.
The final section of the poem is a reflection on death and the meaning of life. The speaker realizes that life is short and that we must make the most of our time on earth. He also reflects on the pain and suffering that we all must endure, and he questions the purpose of it all.
Language
Bidart's use of language is one of the most striking elements of California Plush. He uses vivid and powerful imagery to convey the speaker's emotions. For example, in the first section of the poem, the speaker describes the plush carpet as "a golden jungle that muffled the slightest sound." This description creates a sense of comfort and security, but also a sense of being trapped.
Bidart also uses repetition to emphasize certain phrases and ideas. For example, throughout the poem, he repeats the phrase "I am a homosexual" to emphasize the speaker's struggle with his sexuality. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and intensity.
Structure
The structure of California Plush is also significant. The poem is divided into four sections, each of which represents a different stage in the speaker's life. The lack of a regular rhyme scheme or meter adds to the chaotic and intense nature of the poem.
Bidart also uses enjambment, which is when a sentence or phrase continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation. This creates a sense of fluidity and movement, as if the speaker's thoughts and emotions are pouring out without control.
Themes
There are several themes in California Plush, including sexuality, identity, love, and death. The theme of sexuality is perhaps the most prominent. The speaker struggles with his homosexuality and the fear of being rejected by his family and society. He also grapples with his own identity and the meaning of his life.
The theme of love is also significant. The speaker is deeply in love with his partner, but their relationship is fraught with tension and conflict. The speaker is afraid of losing his partner, and he is also afraid of being alone. This theme adds to the intense and emotional nature of the poem.
The theme of death is also present in California Plush. The speaker reflects on the meaning of life and the pain and suffering that we all must endure. This theme adds a sense of urgency and significance to the poem.
Interpretation
The meaning of California Plush is complex and open to interpretation. However, one possible interpretation is that the poem is a reflection on the struggle for identity and the search for meaning in life. The speaker struggles with his sexuality and his own identity, and he questions the purpose of his life.
The poem also reflects on the pain and suffering that we all must endure, and the need to make the most of our time on earth. The speaker realizes that life is short, and that we must make the most of our time.
Overall, California Plush is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of sexuality, identity, love, and death. Bidart's use of language, structure, and imagery are all significant in creating a sense of intensity and urgency. The poem is open to interpretation, but it ultimately reflects on the struggle for identity and the search for meaning in life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry California Plush: An Analysis of Frank Bidart's Masterpiece
Frank Bidart's Poetry California Plush is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of love, loss, and identity. The poem is a journey through the mind of the speaker, as he reflects on his past and present, and tries to make sense of his place in the world.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's life. The first section, titled "The War of Vaslav Nijinsky," is a meditation on the life of the famous ballet dancer. The speaker reflects on Nijinsky's struggles with mental illness and his eventual descent into madness. The section is a powerful exploration of the fragility of the human mind and the destructive power of mental illness.
The second section, titled "The Second Hour of the Night," is a reflection on the speaker's own life. He reflects on his past relationships and the pain of lost love. The section is a powerful exploration of the human heart and the pain of love lost.
The final section, titled "Poetry California Plush," is a meditation on the nature of identity. The speaker reflects on his own identity and the ways in which it has been shaped by his experiences. The section is a powerful exploration of the human soul and the search for meaning in life.
Throughout the poem, Bidart uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a powerful and evocative work. He uses repetition, imagery, and metaphor to create a sense of depth and complexity. The poem is also notable for its use of language, which is both beautiful and precise.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. Bidart repeats certain phrases and images throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and unity. For example, the phrase "the second hour of the night" appears several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of timelessness and inevitability.
The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Bidart uses vivid and evocative images to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, in the first section of the poem, he describes Nijinsky's descent into madness using the image of a "black hole." This image creates a sense of darkness and despair, and underscores the destructive power of mental illness.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of metaphor. Bidart uses metaphor to create a sense of depth and complexity, and to explore complex themes and ideas. For example, in the final section of the poem, he uses the metaphor of a "mirror" to explore the nature of identity. The mirror represents the way in which we see ourselves, and the way in which our experiences shape our sense of self.
Overall, Poetry California Plush is a powerful and evocative work of modern poetry. It explores complex themes and ideas with precision and beauty, and uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of depth and complexity. It is a work that rewards careful reading and reflection, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
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