'Questions Of Travel' by Elizabeth Bishop
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There are too many waterfalls here; the crowded streams
hurry too rapidly down to the sea,
and the pressure of so many clouds on the mountaintops
makes them spill over the sides in soft slow-motion,
turning to waterfalls under our very eyes.
--For if those streaks, those mile-long, shiny, tearstains,
aren't waterfalls yet,
in a quick age or so, as ages go here,
they probably will be.
But if the streams and clouds keep travelling, travelling,
the mountains look like the hulls of capsized ships,
slime-hung and barnacled.
Think of the long trip home.
Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?
Where should we be today?
Is it right to be watching strangers in a play
in this strangest of theatres?
What childishness is it that while there's a breath of life
in our bodies, we are determined to rush
to see the sun the other way around?
The tiniest green hummingbird in the world?
To stare at some inexplicable old stonework,
inexplicable and impenetrable,
at any view,
instantly seen and always, always delightful?
Oh, must we dream our dreams
and have them, too?
And have we room
for one more folded sunset, still quite warm?
But surely it would have been a pity
not to have seen the trees along this road,
really exaggerated in their beauty,
not to have seen them gesturing
like noble pantomimists, robed in pink.
--Not to have had to stop for gas and heard
the sad, two-noted, wooden tune
of disparate wooden clogs
carelessly clacking over
a grease-stained filling-station floor.
(In another country the clogs would all be tested.
Each pair there would have identical pitch.)
--A pity not to have heard
the other, less primitive music of the fat brown bird
who sings above the broken gasoline pump
in a bamboo church of Jesuit baroque:
three towers, five silver crosses.
--Yes, a pity not to have pondered,
blurr'dly and inconclusively,
on what connection can exist for centuries
between the crudest wooden footwear
and, careful and finicky,
the whittled fantasies of wooden footwear
and, careful and finicky,
the whittled fantasies of wooden cages.
--Never to have studied history in
the weak calligraphy of songbirds' cages.
--And never to have had to listen to rain
so much like politicians' speeches:
two hours of unrelenting oratory
and then a sudden golden silence
in which the traveller takes a notebook, writes:
"Is it lack of imagination that makes us come
to imagined places, not just stay at home?
Or could Pascal have been not entirely right
about just sitting quietly in one's room?
Continent, city, country, society:
the choice is never wide and never free.
And here, or there . . . No. Should we have stayed at home,
wherever that may be?"
Editor 1 Interpretation
Elizabeth Bishop's "Questions of Travel": A Journey Through Time and Space
Elizabeth Bishop's "Questions of Travel" is a masterful poem that takes the reader on a journey through time and space. With its vivid imagery, introspective tone, and complex structure, this poem has become one of the most celebrated works of modernist literature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and symbolic meanings that can be found in Bishop's poem.
The Journey Begins
The poem opens with a series of questions that reflect the speaker's internal conflict: should she stay in her familiar surroundings or venture out into the unknown? The speaker is torn between the comfort of home and the allure of travel: "Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?" (line 1). This question sets the tone for the poem as a whole, suggesting that the journey the speaker is about to embark on will be a psychological one as well as a physical one.
The poem then moves into a series of images that evoke the idea of travel: "The water in a fountain leaps and falls / into the basin of marble dust" (lines 3-4). This image of water is a recurring motif throughout the poem, symbolizing the fluidity of time and the ever-changing nature of the world. The image of the fountain also suggests the idea of a journey, as the water travels from the top of the fountain to the bottom.
The Landscape of Travel
The poem then moves into a description of the landscape of travel: "brown islands / Big eyes of rocks, salt white fishing boats" (lines 8-9). This description captures the essence of travel, with its juxtaposition of the natural and the man-made. The "brown islands" suggest a sense of isolation and remoteness, while the "salt white fishing boats" suggest the presence of human activity. The speaker is thus confronted with the duality of travel, with its promise of new experiences and its potential for loneliness.
The poem then moves into a contemplation of the natural world: "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; / He watches from his mountain walls" (lines 15-16). This image of a person observing the sea from a distance suggests the idea of perspective, with the speaker reflecting on the vastness and complexity of the natural world. The sea is once again used as a symbol of change and movement, with its "wrinkled" surface suggesting the passage of time.
The Journey Within
The poem then moves into a contemplation of the self: "I am a city, I am a nation / I am a world so new and old" (lines 19-20). This line captures the speaker's sense of identity, suggesting that she is both an individual and a product of her environment. The idea of being "new and old" suggests the idea of history, with the speaker reflecting on the past and the present.
The poem then moves into a series of questions that reflect the speaker's sense of isolation: "Where should we be today? / Is it right to be watching strangers in a play / in this strangest of theatres?" (lines 23-25). These questions suggest the idea of dislocation, with the speaker questioning her place in the world. The idea of the "strangest of theatres" suggests that the world itself is a performance, with humans playing the roles of actors on a stage.
The End of the Journey
The poem then moves into a contemplation of the end of the journey: "Shall we ever look at each other again? / Must I have a destination?" (lines 28-29). These questions suggest the idea of mortality, with the speaker reflecting on the fact that all journeys must eventually come to an end. The idea of having a "destination" suggests the idea of purpose, with the speaker questioning whether life has a predetermined goal.
The poem then ends with a series of images that suggest the cyclical nature of life: "The sky is white as clay, with no sun" (line 30). This image suggests the idea of death and rebirth, with the white sky representing a blank slate on which new life can be written. The final image of "trees in a row / As though they had been painted in one stroke" (lines 33-34) suggests the idea of unity, with the individual trees merging into a single entity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Elizabeth Bishop's "Questions of Travel" is a rich and complex poem that explores the themes of identity, travel, and mortality. With its vivid imagery and introspective tone, this poem has become a classic of modernist literature. By contemplating the nature of the self and the world around us, Bishop invites us to embark on our own journey of personal discovery.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Questions of Travel: A Journey Through Elizabeth Bishop's Poem
Elizabeth Bishop's poem "Questions of Travel" is a journey through the complexities of human existence. The poem explores the themes of travel, identity, and the search for meaning in life. It is a reflection on the human condition and the existential questions that we all face. In this analysis, we will explore the poem's structure, language, and themes to understand its deeper meaning.
Structure
The poem is divided into two parts, each with its own distinct structure. The first part consists of ten stanzas, each with three lines. The second part consists of a single stanza with twelve lines. The first part of the poem is written in the present tense, while the second part is written in the past tense. This shift in tense marks a change in the speaker's perspective and highlights the theme of time.
The poem's structure is also characterized by its use of repetition. The phrase "should we" is repeated throughout the first part of the poem, emphasizing the speaker's uncertainty and indecision. The repetition of the phrase "I don't know" in the second part of the poem highlights the speaker's sense of confusion and disorientation.
Language
Bishop's use of language is both precise and evocative. The poem is full of vivid imagery that captures the essence of travel and the human experience. The opening lines of the poem, "There are too many waterfalls here; the crowded streams / hurry too rapidly down to the sea," create a sense of overwhelming abundance and chaos. The use of the word "crowded" suggests a sense of claustrophobia and the feeling of being trapped.
Throughout the poem, Bishop uses language to explore the theme of identity. The phrase "should we" suggests a sense of uncertainty and the struggle to define oneself. The line "I am a parcel of vain strivings tied" captures the sense of fragmentation and the search for meaning in life. The use of the word "parcel" suggests a sense of being packaged and controlled, while the phrase "vain strivings" highlights the futility of the search for meaning.
Themes
The poem explores several themes, including travel, identity, and the search for meaning in life. The theme of travel is central to the poem, as the speaker reflects on the experience of being in a new place. The poem captures the sense of disorientation and the struggle to find one's place in a new environment. The line "Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?" highlights the tension between the desire to explore new places and the comfort of familiarity.
The theme of identity is also central to the poem. The speaker struggles to define herself and her place in the world. The line "I am a parcel of vain strivings tied" captures the sense of fragmentation and the search for meaning in life. The poem suggests that the search for identity is a lifelong journey, and that there are no easy answers.
The theme of the search for meaning in life is also explored in the poem. The line "What childishness is it that while there's a breath of life / in our bodies, we are determined to rush / to see the sun the other way around?" suggests a sense of futility in the search for meaning. The poem suggests that the search for meaning is a fundamental human experience, but that it is ultimately elusive.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Bishop's poem "Questions of Travel" is a journey through the complexities of human existence. The poem explores the themes of travel, identity, and the search for meaning in life. The poem's structure, language, and themes work together to create a powerful reflection on the human condition. The poem suggests that the search for meaning is a lifelong journey, and that there are no easy answers. Ultimately, the poem invites us to reflect on our own experiences of travel, identity, and the search for meaning in life.
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