'June 11' by David Lehman


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It's my birtday I've got an empty
stomach and the desire to be
lazy in the hammock and maybe
go for a cool swim on a hot day
with the trombone in Sinatra's
"I've Got You Under My Skin"
in my head and then to break for
lunch a corned-beef sandwich and Pepsi
with plenty of ice cubes unlike France
where they put one measly ice cube
in your expensive Coke and when
you ask for more they argue with
you they say this way you get more
Coke for the money showing they
completely misunderstand the nature of
American soft drinks which are an
excuse for ice cubes still I wouldn't
mind being there for a couple of
days Philip Larkin's attitude
toward China comes to mind when
asked if he'd like to go there he said
yes if he could return the same day

Editor 1 Interpretation

"June 11" - A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Introduction

David Lehman's poem "June 11" is a classic piece of literature that has been lauded for its richness and depth. The poem is a beautiful piece of art that captures the essence of nature and the human spirit. Its themes of love, loss, and longing are explored in a way that is both personal and universal. In this literary criticism and interpretation of the poem, we will explore its various themes, imagery, and symbols.

Analysis

Structure

The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to express his thoughts and feelings in a more spontaneous and natural way. The poem has a loose structure, with each stanza consisting of a different number of lines. The poem is divided into five stanzas, with the first and last being the longest. This creates a sense of balance and symmetry in the poem.

Imagery and Symbols

The imagery in "June 11" is rich and evocative. The poet uses vivid descriptions of nature to create a sense of beauty and wonder. The poem is filled with images of flowers, birds, and trees, which symbolize the beauty and fragility of life. The poem also makes use of the symbol of the sun, which represents hope and renewal. The sun is described as "a blazing wheel" in the sky, which evokes a sense of power and majesty.

Themes

The poem explores several themes, including love, loss, and longing. The poet reflects on his own experiences of love and loss, and how they have shaped his life. He also reflects on the beauty and transience of life, and how we must cherish every moment. The poem is a meditation on the human experience, and how we must find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Tone and Mood

The tone of "June 11" is contemplative and reflective. The poet reflects on his own experiences of love and loss, and how they have shaped his life. The poem is filled with a sense of longing and yearning, as the poet reflects on the beauty and transience of life. The mood of the poem is wistful and nostalgic, as the poet reflects on the past and the memories that have shaped his life.

Interpretation

The Beauty of Life

"June 11" is a poem that celebrates the beauty of life. The poet reflects on the beauty of nature, and how it can inspire us to find meaning and purpose in our lives. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting, and we must cherish every moment. The poet reminds us to find joy in the small things, such as the sound of birds singing or the scent of flowers in the air. The poem is a celebration of the human spirit, and how we can find beauty and joy in even the most difficult of circumstances.

Love and Loss

The poem also explores the themes of love and loss. The poet reflects on his own experiences of love and loss, and how they have shaped his life. The poem is a meditation on the human experience, and how we must find meaning and purpose in our lives. The poet reminds us that even in the face of loss, we can find hope and renewal. The poem is a celebration of the human spirit, and how we can find strength and resilience in even the darkest of times.

The Transience of Life

The poem is a reflection on the transience of life. The poet reminds us that life is fleeting, and we must cherish every moment. The poem is a meditation on the beauty and fragility of life, and how we must find meaning and purpose in our lives. The poet reminds us that we must embrace life, even in the face of death. The poem is a celebration of the human spirit, and how we can find beauty and joy in even the most difficult of circumstances.

Conclusion

"June 11" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a celebration of the human spirit, and how we can find beauty and joy in even the most difficult of circumstances. The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting, and we must cherish every moment. The poet reminds us to find joy in the small things, and to embrace life, even in the face of death. "June 11" is a classic piece of literature that has touched the hearts of readers for generations, and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

June 11: A Poem of Love and Loss

David Lehman's "June 11" is a classic poem that captures the essence of love and loss. The poem is a beautiful tribute to a lost love, and it speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the struggle to move on.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "Today is June 11th." This seemingly innocuous statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes a sense of time and place. The speaker is clearly reflecting on a specific moment in time, and this moment is significant in some way.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reveal more about the nature of this significance. He speaks of "the day you left," and it becomes clear that this is a day of great emotional weight for him. The speaker is clearly still grappling with the pain of this loss, and he is struggling to come to terms with it.

One of the most striking things about "June 11" is the way in which Lehman uses language to convey the speaker's emotions. The poem is full of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that capture the intensity of the speaker's feelings. For example, he speaks of "the sky that day was a perfect blue / like your eyes," and this comparison between the color of the sky and the color of his lost love's eyes is both beautiful and poignant.

Similarly, the speaker describes the way in which he is haunted by memories of his lost love. He speaks of "the ghost of you / that haunts me still," and this image of a ghostly presence that lingers long after the person is gone is both haunting and evocative.

Throughout the poem, Lehman uses repetition to great effect. The phrase "June 11th" is repeated several times, and this repetition serves to emphasize the importance of this date in the speaker's life. Similarly, the phrase "I loved you" is repeated several times, and this repetition serves to underscore the depth of the speaker's feelings.

One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes towards the end, when the speaker acknowledges that he will never be able to fully move on from his lost love. He speaks of "the wound that never heals," and this image of a wound that remains open and raw is both heartbreaking and true to life. The speaker knows that he will always carry the pain of this loss with him, and he accepts this as a fact of life.

In the final lines of the poem, the speaker speaks of "the love that never dies." This is a powerful statement, as it suggests that even though the speaker has lost his love, the love itself is still alive and present in some way. This is a hopeful note to end on, as it suggests that even though the speaker has experienced great pain, he has also experienced great love, and this love will continue to sustain him in some way.

Overall, "June 11" is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of love and loss. Lehman's use of language is masterful, and he is able to convey the speaker's emotions with great power and clarity. The poem is a testament to the enduring nature of love, even in the face of great pain and loss, and it is a reminder that even though we may experience heartbreak, we can still find hope and solace in the love that we have known.

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