'The Visitor' by Carolyn Forché
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In Spanish he whispers there is no time left.
It is the sound of scythes arcing in wheat,
the ache of some field song in Salvador.
The wind along the prison, cautious
as Francisco's hands on the inside, touching
the walls as he walks, it is his wife's breath
slipping into his cell each night while he
imagines his hand to be hers. It is a small country.
There is nothing one man will not do to another.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Visitor by Carolyn Forché - A Poem Worth Reading
Have you ever come across a poem that leaves you wondering what the author was trying to convey? One that seems to speak to you on a personal level, yet you can't quite put your finger on why? That's precisely what Carolyn Forché's "The Visitor" does, and it's a poem that's worth delving into.
At first glance, "The Visitor" appears to be a simple poem about a stranger who visits the speaker's home. However, the poem is much more than that. It's a reflection on the power of human connection, particularly in the context of language and communication.
The Poem - An Overview
Before we dive into the interpretation of "The Visitor," let's take a moment to read through the poem.
The visitor enters the house uninvited and unknown, apprehensive, and with a soft voice speaks in a language I cannot understand.
I answer in mine, with gestures, pointing to a chair, a glass of water, and the photograph of a woman, smoothing the sleeve of my shirt.
The visitor nods and smiles. I nod and smile back, and bring the glass of water and a piece of bread and some fruit, which we share.
We sit for a while, until the visitor stands, bows, and departs, leaving behind a beautiful stone and the sense of having been seen.
On the surface, "The Visitor" seems to be a simple narrative about a stranger entering the speaker's home. The visitor speaks a language that the speaker cannot understand, and the two communicate through gestures and actions. They share a moment of connection through the offering of food and drink, and the visitor leaves behind a gift before departing.
The Power of Language
However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we see that it's not just a story about hospitality. Instead, it's a reflection on the power of language and how it can either connect or divide us.
The visitor speaks in a language that the speaker cannot understand, yet they still manage to communicate through gestures and actions. Despite the linguistic barrier, the speaker is still able to convey basic information, such as offering a chair, water, and food. This shows that language isn't the only way to communicate; we can still connect with others through nonverbal cues.
But why is language so important? Language is a fundamental part of how we communicate with others and how we understand the world around us. It's through language that we're able to connect with people, share our experiences, and learn from others.
By including the linguistic barrier in the poem, Forché is highlighting the importance of overcoming communication barriers. Despite the fact that the speaker and the visitor can't fully understand each other, they still manage to connect on a basic human level. This shows that even when we don't share a common language, we can still find ways to connect with others.
The Importance of Hospitality
Another theme that runs through "The Visitor" is the importance of hospitality. The speaker offers the visitor a seat, water, and food, which shows a willingness to open their home and share what they have.
Hospitality is an important value in many cultures, and it's a way of showing respect and kindness to others. By including this theme in the poem, Forché is highlighting the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, even when they are strangers.
Finding Connection through Shared Experiences
Finally, "The Visitor" also touches on the idea of finding connection through shared experiences. Despite the fact that the speaker and the visitor come from different backgrounds and cultures, they are still able to connect through the act of sharing food.
Food is a universal experience; it's something that everyone needs to survive, and it's also something that can bring people together. By sharing food with the visitor, the speaker is able to create a sense of connection and shared experience.
Interpretation
When we look at "The Visitor" as a whole, we see that it's a poem about the power of human connection. Despite the linguistic and cultural barriers between the speaker and the visitor, they are still able to connect on a basic human level through gestures, hospitality, and shared experiences.
Forché is highlighting the importance of finding ways to connect with others, even when we don't share a common language or culture. It's a reminder that we are all human beings with basic needs and desires, and we should strive to treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of our differences.
The visitor leaving behind a stone as a gift is also significant. Stones are often used as symbols of strength and resilience, and they can also represent a sense of permanence. By leaving behind a stone, the visitor is creating a sense of connection and permanence with the speaker, despite the fact that they may never see each other again.
Conclusion
"The Visitor" is a poem that's worth reading and analyzing. It's a reminder that human connection is powerful and can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers. It's also a reminder of the importance of hospitality and treating others with kindness and respect.
Forché has crafted a beautiful poem that speaks to the human experience, and it's one that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. So take a moment to read "The Visitor" and see what it speaks to you. Who knows, you might just find a connection that you never expected.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Visitor: A Poem of Profound Significance
Carolyn Forché’s poem, The Visitor, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human suffering and the power of empathy. The poem is a reflection of the author’s experience in El Salvador during the civil war in the 1980s. It is a powerful and moving piece that explores the themes of violence, loss, and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning, structure, and significance.
The poem begins with a description of a visitor who arrives in a village that has been devastated by war. The visitor is a witness to the destruction and violence that has taken place, and the poem captures the sense of shock and horror that the visitor experiences. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:
"In the village square, a visitor watches the children playing soldiers. Their laughter rises into the olive trees."
The imagery in these lines is powerful and evocative. The village square, once a place of community and joy, is now a site of destruction and sorrow. The children, who should be innocent and carefree, are playing soldiers, a reflection of the violence that has engulfed their lives. The laughter that rises into the olive trees is a poignant reminder of the beauty and resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity.
As the poem progresses, the visitor encounters a woman who has lost her son in the war. The woman’s grief is palpable, and the visitor is moved by her pain. The lines that describe the woman’s grief are some of the most powerful in the poem:
"She tells him how they came at night, the soldiers, and took her son. She shows him the hole in the wall where they shot him, and the blood that still stains the floor."
The starkness of these lines is striking. The woman’s loss is not just a personal tragedy; it is a reflection of the wider violence and suffering that has engulfed the village. The hole in the wall and the blood on the floor are symbols of the brutality and inhumanity of war.
The poem then takes a surprising turn. The visitor, who has been a witness to the suffering and loss in the village, suddenly becomes a participant in the violence. The lines that describe this moment are chilling:
"He takes the gun from the soldier’s hand and shoots him. He shoots the others."
The sudden shift in perspective is jarring, and it raises important questions about the nature of violence and the human condition. Is the visitor justified in taking up arms against the soldiers? Is violence ever an acceptable response to violence? These are complex and difficult questions, and the poem does not offer easy answers.
The final lines of the poem are a reflection on the visitor’s experience. The lines are simple, but they are also profound:
"The visitor leaves the village and walks into the mountains. He does not know what he will find."
These lines capture the sense of uncertainty and ambiguity that pervades the poem. The visitor has witnessed the horrors of war, and he has responded with violence. But what comes next? What will he find in the mountains? The poem does not offer a clear answer, but it does suggest that the journey is important. The visitor’s experience has changed him, and he is now on a new path, one that is uncertain but also full of possibility.
In terms of structure, The Visitor is a free verse poem that is divided into three stanzas. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the visitor. The second stanza focuses on the woman who has lost her son, and the third stanza describes the visitor’s response to the violence he has witnessed. The poem is written in the present tense, which gives it a sense of immediacy and urgency.
In conclusion, The Visitor is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of violence, loss, and the human condition. It is a reflection of the author’s experience in El Salvador during the civil war, but it is also a universal meditation on the nature of suffering and the power of empathy. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope, and that the human spirit is capable of great resilience and strength.
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