'Epitaph For A Romantic Woman' by Louise Bogan


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She has attained the permanence
She dreamed of, where old stones lie sunning.
Untended stalks blow over her
Even and swift, like young men running.

Always in the heart she loved
Others had lived, -- she heard their laughter.
She lies where none has lain before,
Where certainly none will follow after.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Epitaph For A Romantic Woman: A Masterpiece of Louise Bogan

Louise Bogan, an American poet and a critic, is known for her concise and powerful poems. Her poem, "Epitaph For A Romantic Woman," is one of her best-known pieces of work. This poem, with only twelve lines, is a perfect example of her talent for saying much with few words.

The Poem

The poem begins with the speaker describing the woman as "one who was never young." This line implies that the woman was always old, and that youth was never a part of her life. The speaker then goes on to describe the woman's romantic nature, saying that she "loved the impossible." This line suggests that the woman was a dreamer, always looking for something that was out of reach.

The third line is a turning point in the poem. The speaker states that the woman was "born out of season," which implies that she was not meant to be born when she was. The line also suggests that the woman was out of place in the world, and that she never quite fit in.

In the final lines of the poem, the speaker describes the woman's death. The woman, who was "always dying," finally succumbed to death. The speaker then notes that the woman's death was not a surprise, as she had always been dying. The poem concludes with the speaker proclaiming that the woman "was the stillness between two notes/ Which are now discordant." This last line suggests that the woman's death has caused a disruption in the world, and that things are no longer in harmony.

An Interpretation

"Epitaph For A Romantic Woman" is a complex poem that requires careful interpretation. At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the nature of life and death. The woman in the poem is portrayed as a figure who never quite fit in with the world around her. She was out of place and out of sync with the rhythms of life. Her romantic nature, her love of the impossible, only served to exacerbate this sense of disconnection.

The line "born out of season" is a key to understanding the woman's character. This line suggests that the woman was not meant to be born when she was. She was out of sync with the world around her from the very beginning. This sense of disconnection was then amplified by her romanticism. By always dreaming of the impossible, the woman was setting herself up for disappointment. She was always striving for something that was out of reach, and this only served to make her feel more out of place in the world.

The woman's death is presented as a natural consequence of her romanticism. She was always dying, always out of sync with the rhythms of life. Her death was not a surprise, but it was still a disruption in the world. The final line of the poem, "She was the stillness between two notes/ Which are now discordant," suggests that the woman's death has caused a disturbance in the world. The two notes, which were once in harmony, are now out of sync. The woman's death has upset the balance of things.

Overall, "Epitaph For A Romantic Woman" is a poignant meditation on the nature of life and death. The woman in the poem serves as a symbol for all those who feel out of place in the world. Her romanticism, her love of the impossible, only serves to amplify this sense of disconnection. Her death is presented as a natural consequence of this disconnection, but it is still a disruption in the world. The final line of the poem suggests that her death has upset the balance of things, and that things are no longer in harmony.

Conclusion

"Epitaph For A Romantic Woman" is a masterpiece of Louise Bogan. With only twelve lines, Bogan creates a complex and poignant meditation on the nature of life and death. The woman in the poem serves as a symbol for all those who feel out of place in the world. Her romanticism, her love of the impossible, only serves to amplify this sense of disconnection. Her death is presented as a natural consequence of this disconnection, but it is still a disruption in the world. The final line of the poem suggests that her death has upset the balance of things, and that things are no longer in harmony. Overall, this poem is a testament to Bogan's talent for saying much with few words, and it is a powerful meditation on the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Epitaph For A Romantic Woman: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression

Louise Bogan's Epitaph For A Romantic Woman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of a woman who lived her life with passion and romance. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with the line, "She has attained the permanence she dreamed of." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of the poem, which is the idea of permanence. The woman in the poem has achieved the permanence she dreamed of, which suggests that she has found a way to live forever through her legacy.

The next line, "Not fame but something larger than fame," further emphasizes the idea of permanence. The woman in the poem did not seek fame but something larger than fame, which suggests that she wanted to leave a lasting impact on the world. This idea is reinforced in the next line, "A work of art completed, the satisfaction of completing it."

The woman in the poem has completed a work of art, which could be interpreted as her life's work. The satisfaction of completing it suggests that she has found fulfillment in her life's work and has achieved a sense of purpose. This idea is further reinforced in the next line, "The peace that comes with making the effort to surpass oneself."

The woman in the poem has made the effort to surpass herself, which suggests that she has pushed herself to be the best she can be. The peace that comes with this effort suggests that she has found inner peace and contentment in her life. This idea is further reinforced in the next line, "The straining to be memorable and forgetting to be true."

The woman in the poem has strived to be memorable, which suggests that she has wanted to leave a lasting impact on the world. However, she has forgotten to be true to herself, which suggests that she has lost sight of her true self in her pursuit of greatness. This idea is further reinforced in the next line, "The clambering for a moment's notice and the desire to be loved."

The woman in the poem has clambered for a moment's notice, which suggests that she has sought attention and recognition from others. The desire to be loved suggests that she has wanted to be loved and accepted by others. However, these desires have not brought her true happiness or fulfillment.

The next line, "The uncontrollable passion for a life that rushes by," suggests that the woman in the poem has lived her life with passion and intensity. However, this passion has been uncontrollable, which suggests that she has not been able to fully control her emotions or impulses. This idea is further reinforced in the next line, "The crushing necessity to succeed."

The woman in the poem has felt a crushing necessity to succeed, which suggests that she has put a lot of pressure on herself to achieve greatness. This pressure may have caused her to lose sight of what is truly important in life, such as love, happiness, and fulfillment.

The next line, "The artist must sweat and strive to make it seem effortless," suggests that the woman in the poem was an artist. The idea that the artist must sweat and strive to make it seem effortless suggests that the woman in the poem worked hard to achieve her goals and make her life's work seem effortless.

The final line of the poem, "In her is the end of breeding, the beginning of survival," suggests that the woman in the poem has reached the end of her life. The end of breeding suggests that she has not had children or passed on her genes to future generations. However, the beginning of survival suggests that she has left a lasting impact on the world through her legacy.

In terms of imagery, the poem is filled with vivid and powerful images that help to convey the central themes of the poem. For example, the line "The uncontrollable passion for a life that rushes by," creates an image of a woman who is living her life with passion and intensity, but who is also struggling to keep up with the pace of life.

The line "The crushing necessity to succeed," creates an image of a woman who is under a lot of pressure to achieve greatness. This pressure may be weighing her down and preventing her from fully enjoying her life.

The language used in the poem is also significant. The use of the word "permanence" suggests that the woman in the poem has found a way to live forever through her legacy. The use of the word "satisfaction" suggests that she has found fulfillment in her life's work. The use of the word "peace" suggests that she has found inner peace and contentment in her life.

In conclusion, Epitaph For A Romantic Woman is a classic poem that captures the essence of a woman who lived her life with passion and romance. The poem explores the themes of permanence, fulfillment, and inner peace, and uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey these themes. It is a masterpiece of poetic expression that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers today.

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