'On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.'' by Thom Gunn


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The blue jay scuffling in the bushes follows
Some hidden purpose, and the gush of birds
That spurts across the field, the wheeling swallows,
Have nested in the trees and undergrowth.
Seeking their instinct, or their pose, or both,
One moves with an uncertain violence
Under the dust thrown by a baffled sense
Or the dull thunder of approximate words.

On motorcycles, up the road, they come:
Small, black, as flies hanging in heat, the Boy,
Until the distance throws them forth, their hum
Bulges to thunder held by calf and thigh.
In goggles, donned impersonality,
In gleaming jackets trophied with the dust,
They strap in doubt--by hiding it, robust--
And almost hear a meaning in their noise.

Exact conclusion of their hardiness
Has no shape yet, but from known whereabouts
They ride, directions where the tires press.
They scare a flight of birds across the field:
Much that is natural, to the will must yield.
Men manufacture both machine and soul,
And use what they imperfectly control
To dare a future from the taken routes.

It is part solution, after all.
One is not necessarily discord
On Earth; or damned because, half animal,
One lacks direct instinct, because one wakes
Afloat on movement that divides and breaks.
One joins the movement in a valueless world,
Crossing it, till, both hurler and the hurled,
One moves as well, always toward, toward.

A minute holds them, who have come to go:
The self-denied, astride the created will.
They burst away; the towns they travel through
Are home for neither birds nor holiness,
For birds and saints complete their purposes.
At worse, one is in motion; and at best,
Reaching no absolute, in which to rest,
One is always nearer by not keeping still.


Submitted by Andrew Mayers

Editor 1 Interpretation

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' by Thom Gunn

Introduction

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' is a classic poem written by the English poet Thom Gunn. The poem was first published in 1958 as part of his collection titled "The Sense of Movement." It is a poem that is often considered as one of the most representative works of the British poetry of the 1950s. The poem is a reflection of the social and cultural changes that were taking place in the post-war Britain. It is a poem that captures the spirit of the youth culture of the time and celebrates the idea of freedom and rebellion.

Summary

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' is a poem that is written in blank verse. The poem is composed of six stanzas, each consisting of five lines. The poem is characterized by its use of repetition, alliteration and vivid imagery. The poem is a celebration of the freedom and rebellion of the youth culture of the time. The poem is an ode to the motorcycle and the freedom that it represents. The poem is a call to live life on one's own terms and to embrace the spirit of adventure.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the phrase "Man, you gotta go" which is repeated in each stanza. The first stanza describes the freedom that comes with riding a motorcycle. The second stanza describes the thrill of speed and the feeling of power that comes with it. The third stanza describes the camaraderie and brotherhood that comes with riding with a group of fellow motorcyclists. The fourth stanza describes the sense of danger and risk that comes with riding a motorcycle. The fifth stanza describes the sense of adventure and the feeling of being alive that comes with riding a motorcycle. The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the spirit of adventure and to live life to the fullest.

Analysis

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' is a poem that celebrates the freedom and rebellion of the youth culture of the time. The poem is a reflection of the social and cultural changes that were taking place in post-war Britain. The poem is a call to live life on one's own terms and to embrace the spirit of adventure. The poem is an ode to the motorcycle and the freedom that it represents.

The poem is characterized by its use of repetition. The phrase "Man, you gotta go" is repeated in each stanza of the poem. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the importance of embracing the spirit of adventure. The repetition also creates a sense of unity and brotherhood, as if the speaker is speaking directly to the reader, urging them to join the movement.

The poem is also characterized by its use of vivid imagery. The poem is filled with images of speed, power, danger, and adventure. These images create a sense of excitement and thrill, and they capture the spirit of the youth culture of the time. The poem is also characterized by its use of alliteration, which creates a sense of rhythm and movement. The use of alliteration also emphasizes the importance of the motorcycle, and it reinforces the idea that the motorcycle is a symbol of freedom and rebellion.

The poem can be interpreted in different ways. On one level, the poem is a celebration of the freedom and rebellion that comes with riding a motorcycle. The poem can be seen as an ode to the motorcycle and the sense of adventure that it represents. On another level, the poem can be seen as a critique of the conformity and boredom of the post-war society. The poem can be seen as a call to break free from the constraints of society and to embrace the spirit of adventure and rebellion.

The poem can also be interpreted as a reflection of the social and cultural changes that were taking place in post-war Britain. The poem can be seen as a representation of the youth culture of the time, and it captures the spirit of rebellion and freedom that characterized that culture. The poem can be seen as a reflection of the changing attitudes towards authority, conformity, and tradition that were taking place at the time.

Conclusion

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' is a classic poem that celebrates the freedom and rebellion of the youth culture of the 1950s. The poem is a reflection of the social and cultural changes that were taking place in post-war Britain, and it captures the spirit of rebellion and freedom that characterized that culture. The poem is an ode to the motorcycle and the freedom that it represents. The poem is a call to live life on one's own terms and to embrace the spirit of adventure. The poem is a powerful and evocative work that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' by Thom Gunn is a classic poem that captures the essence of the 1960s counterculture movement. The poem is a celebration of freedom, rebellion, and the open road. It is a call to action for those who feel trapped by the constraints of society and yearn for adventure and excitement.

The poem begins with the line "Man, you gotta go." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a call to action, a command to break free from the mundane and explore the world. The use of the word "man" is significant as it is a term often associated with the counterculture movement. It is a term of camaraderie and solidarity, a way of identifying with others who share similar values and beliefs.

The next few lines of the poem describe the feeling of being on the move. The speaker describes the sensation of the wind rushing past, the sound of the engine, and the feeling of freedom that comes with being on the open road. The use of sensory imagery in these lines is particularly effective in conveying the sense of excitement and adventure that the speaker is experiencing.

The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the dangers of the road. The line "The cops are out to blind your eyes" is a reference to the police brutality that was prevalent during the 1960s. The counterculture movement was often met with violence and aggression from the authorities, and this line serves as a reminder of the risks involved in rebelling against the status quo.

Despite the dangers, the speaker remains undeterred. The line "But the road has never killed anyone" is a defiant statement that reinforces the idea that the open road represents freedom and liberation. The speaker is willing to take risks in order to experience the thrill of the journey.

The poem then shifts focus to the idea of community. The line "It's only a matter of picking the time and place" suggests that the speaker is not alone in their desire for adventure. There are others out there who share the same values and beliefs, and it is only a matter of finding them. The use of the word "place" is significant as it suggests that there are specific locations where like-minded individuals can gather and connect.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The line "Man, you gotta go" is repeated, reinforcing the idea that the call to action is still present. The use of the word "man" once again serves as a reminder of the sense of community that exists within the counterculture movement. The final line of the poem, "The world's a mess, it's in my kiss," is a powerful statement that encapsulates the spirit of the counterculture movement. The world may be chaotic and uncertain, but there is still beauty and love to be found.

Overall, On The Move 'Man, You Gotta Go.' by Thom Gunn is a powerful poem that captures the spirit of the counterculture movement. It is a call to action for those who feel trapped by the constraints of society and yearn for adventure and excitement. The use of sensory imagery and repetition is particularly effective in conveying the sense of excitement and urgency that the speaker is experiencing. The poem is a reminder that there is still beauty and love to be found in a world that may seem chaotic and uncertain.

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