'Goes' by Hayden Carruth
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Old guy goes downstairs reeling
and shying at newel and banister
while how his feet once blistered
the treads is what he is recalling,
for the young know how to balance.
Christ help all who wobble,
stagger, trip, step double,
and are their own hindrance,
oh help them. The day is fine out,
bright cold, the blood tingles,
in the yard laughter jangles.
It's a great day to fall on your sinciput
blonk!--and the world is dipping,
breath is thin, vision blurred,
what no one says is what you heard.
Look at the bright blood dripping.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Goes" by Hayden Carruth: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, what a beautiful and haunting poem "Goes" by Hayden Carruth is! From the very first line, Carruth's mastery of language and imagery captures the reader's imagination and takes them on a journey through time and space. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I'll explore the various themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Carruth to create this masterpiece of modern American poetry.
The setting and the speaker
The poem "Goes" is set in a rural landscape, where the speaker is observing the natural world around them. We don't know much about the speaker, except that they are an observer, a watcher, and a listener. They are someone who is attuned to the rhythms and patterns of nature, and they seem to relish the solitude and quietness of their surroundings. This sense of isolation and introspection is underscored by the title of the poem itself, which implies movement, but also a sense of directionlessness or aimlessness. Where is the speaker going? What is their purpose? These questions linger as we read on.
The theme of time
One of the most striking aspects of "Goes" is its preoccupation with time. Throughout the poem, Carruth juxtaposes moments of stillness and motion, past and present, memory and forgetfulness. The speaker watches as "a hawk drifts over" and "a bluebird flits up and down," and marvels at how "The maple leaves turn brown / And curl like old photographs." The imagery here is vivid and evocative, with the leaves and the photographs both representing the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Carruth also uses repetition and parallel structure to emphasize the theme of time. Consider, for example, the lines "The sky goes out, the day goes out, the year / goes out, the light goes out of your eyes." Here, Carruth is drawing our attention to the cyclical nature of time, and how everything is constantly in a state of flux. The repetition of "goes out" emphasizes the finality of each passing moment, while the parallel structure of the sentence creates a sense of inevitability.
The symbolism of birds
Birds play a significant role in "Goes," serving as symbols of freedom, movement, and transcendence. The hawk that "drifts over" is a majestic creature that soars above the landscape, while the bluebird that "flits up and down" is a delicate and ephemeral presence. Both birds represent the fleetingness of life, and the way in which everything is constantly in motion. The hawk, in particular, is a powerful symbol of transcendence, as it has the ability to rise above the mundane concerns of the earth below and see things from a higher perspective.
The use of enjambment
One of the most striking features of "Goes" is the way in which Carruth uses enjambment to create a sense of fluidity and movement. Enjambment is a literary device in which a sentence or phrase runs over to the next line without a pause, creating a sense of continuity and flow. Carruth uses enjambment throughout the poem, but one particularly effective example occurs in the following lines:
"A whisper of wind
In the oak leaves, the silken movement"
Here, the enjambment creates a sense of movement and fluidity, mirroring the movement of the wind and the leaves. The phrase "the silken movement" is particularly evocative, as it suggests a sense of grace and elegance in the way that the leaves sway in the wind.
The importance of sound
Another key feature of "Goes" is the way in which Carruth uses sound to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The poem is full of rich, evocative sounds, from the "whisper of wind" to the "tinkling of water," to the "rustling of leaves." These sounds create a sense of immersion in the natural world, and help to transport the reader to the setting of the poem. Carruth's use of sound is also effective in creating a sense of tension and anticipation. Consider the following lines:
"The light goes out of your eyes,
And then
The wind rises, the leaves
Flutter, and the gate bangs shut."
The suddenness of the wind and the bang of the gate creates a sense of unease and uncertainty, as if something ominous is about to happen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Goes" is a masterful work of poetry that explores themes of time, movement, and transcendence. Through his use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and literary devices such as enjambment and sound, Carruth creates a powerful sense of atmosphere and mood, transporting the reader to the rural landscape of the poem. The speaker's observations of the natural world are both intimate and universal, and the sense of isolation and introspection that pervades the poem is both haunting and beautiful. "Goes" is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience and emotion, and it is a work that will continue to resonate with readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Goes by Hayden Carruth is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human experience and the journey that we all must take in life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
The poem begins with the line, "The river is moving." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that life is constantly in motion and that we must move with it. The river is a powerful symbol in the poem, representing the journey of life and the many twists and turns that we must navigate.
As the poem continues, we are introduced to a series of images that help to paint a picture of the journey that the speaker is on. We see "the blackbird must be flying" and "the grasses must be bending." These images suggest that the speaker is in motion, moving forward on their journey.
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also rich with meaning. The repetition of the phrase "goes on" throughout the poem emphasizes the idea that life is a journey that never ends. The use of the word "must" in the second stanza suggests that there is a sense of inevitability to the journey that we are all on.
One of the most powerful images in the poem is the line, "the light must be changing." This line suggests that the journey that the speaker is on is not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual. The changing light represents the changing nature of our experiences and the way that we see the world around us.
The poem also touches on the idea of mortality, with the line "the river is moving toward the end of the world." This line suggests that our journey in life is finite and that we must make the most of the time that we have.
Overall, Goes by Hayden Carruth is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience and the journey that we all must take in life. The use of imagery and language helps to paint a vivid picture of this journey, emphasizing the idea that life is constantly in motion and that we must move with it. The poem is a reminder that our time on this earth is limited, and that we must make the most of every moment that we have.
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