'Erasing Amyloo' by Russell Edson


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A father with a huge eraser erases his daughter. When he
finishes there's only a red smudge on the wall.
His wife says, where is Amyloo?
She's a mistake, I erased her.
What about all her lovely things? asks his wife.
I'll erase them too.
All her pretty clothes? . . .
I'll erase her closet, her dresser--shut up about Amyloo!
Bring your head over here and I'll erase Amyloo out of it.
The husband rubs his eraser on his wife's forehead, and as
she begins to forget she says, hummm, I wonder whatever
happened to Amyloo? . . .
Never heard of her, says her husband.
And you, she says, who are you? You're not Amyloo, are
you? I don't remember your being Amyloo. Are you my
Amyloo, whom I don't remember anymore? . . .
Of course not, Amyloo was a girl. Do I look like a girl?
. . . I don't know, I don't know what anything looks like
anymore. . .

Editor 1 Interpretation

Erasing Amyloo: A Masterpiece of Surrealism Poetry

Erasing Amyloo, a poem by Russell Edson, is a masterpiece of surrealism that challenges the reader's perception of reality. It is a haunting and mesmerizing tale of a man who tries to erase his beloved wife, Amyloo, from existence. The poem is a perfect example of Edson's unique style that blends fantasy and absurdity to create a world that is both familiar and strange. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the depths of this fascinating poem and explore its meaning, themes, and symbolism.

Background Information

Russell Edson was an American poet, novelist, and playwright. He was born in 1935 in Connecticut, and his work has been described as surreal, absurd, and darkly comic. Edson was the recipient of many literary awards, including the National Book Award in 1969 for his book, "The Tunnel: Selected Poems". Edson's poetry is known for its use of dreamlike imagery, dark humor, and unconventional narratives.

Summary of the Poem

Erasing Amyloo is a surrealistic poem that tells the story of a man who is trying to erase his wife, Amyloo, from existence. The poem opens with the man using an eraser to remove Amyloo's name from a piece of paper. He then moves on to erase her from his memory, his home, and finally, the world. The man's attempts to erase Amyloo become increasingly absurd, as he tries to erase her from the sky and the stars.

The poem ends with the man's realization that he cannot erase Amyloo completely, as she exists in his thoughts and dreams. The poem's final lines are haunting and leave the reader with a sense of unease:

"I have erased Amyloo from everything but my mind. But she is still there, dancing on the edge of my dreams."

Analysis of the Poem

The poem is a surrealistic work that challenges the reader's perception of reality. The poem's narrator is a man who is trying to erase his wife, Amyloo, from existence. The man's actions represent his desire to control and manipulate his environment, to the point of erasing the person he once loved.

The poem's use of surrealistic imagery creates a dreamlike atmosphere, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred. The man's attempts to erase Amyloo become increasingly absurd, as he tries to erase her from the sky and the stars. This absurdity highlights the futility of the man's actions and emphasizes the impossibility of erasing someone completely.

The poem's central theme is the nature of love and loss. The man's attempts to erase Amyloo represent his desire to forget the pain of losing her. However, the poem suggests that love cannot be erased and that the memory of a loved one will always exist, no matter how hard we try to forget.

The poem also explores the theme of control and manipulation. The man's attempts to erase Amyloo represent his desire to control his environment and manipulate reality. However, the poem suggests that this desire for control is ultimately futile and that we cannot control everything in our lives.

The poem's use of symbolism adds depth to its meaning. The eraser represents the man's desire to erase his memories and feelings for Amyloo. The paper represents the man's past, which he is trying to erase. The sky and stars represent the man's desire to erase Amyloo from the world.

The poem's use of language is also noteworthy. Edson's use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a surrealistic atmosphere that draws the reader in. The poem's language is both beautiful and haunting, and it leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Conclusion

Erasing Amyloo is a masterpiece of surrealism poetry that challenges the reader's perception of reality. The poem explores themes of love, loss, control, and manipulation, and it uses vivid imagery and symbolism to create a dreamlike atmosphere. The poem's haunting language and imagery leave a lasting impression on the reader, and it is a testament to Russell Edson's unique and visionary style.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Erasing Amyloo: A Masterpiece of Surrealism

Russell Edson's poem "Erasing Amyloo" is a surreal masterpiece that defies easy interpretation. At first glance, it appears to be a simple story about a man who erases his wife's name from a piece of paper. However, as one delves deeper into the poem, it becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface.

The poem begins with a man sitting at a desk, erasing his wife's name from a piece of paper. He is described as being "very careful" and "very thorough" in his erasing, suggesting that this is not a casual act. The man is also described as being "very happy," which is an odd emotion to associate with erasing one's spouse's name.

As the poem progresses, we learn that the man is erasing his wife's name from a list of people who have died. This adds a new layer of complexity to the poem. Why would the man be erasing his wife's name from a list of the dead? Is he trying to deny her death, or is he trying to erase her from his memory?

The poem takes a surreal turn when the man's wife appears in the room. She is described as being "very much alive," which contradicts the list of the dead that the man was erasing her name from. The wife then proceeds to erase the man's name from the same list, suggesting that there is some sort of power struggle going on between the two.

The poem ends with the man and his wife erasing each other's names from the list of the dead. This final act of erasure is both poignant and disturbing. It suggests that the couple is trying to erase not just each other's memory, but their own mortality as well.

So what does it all mean? Like all great works of art, "Erasing Amyloo" is open to interpretation. However, there are a few key themes that emerge from the poem.

One theme is the fragility of memory. The act of erasing someone's name from a list is a powerful metaphor for the way that memories can be lost or forgotten over time. The man's erasing of his wife's name suggests that he is trying to hold onto his memories of her, but he is also aware that those memories are fading.

Another theme is the power struggle between men and women. The fact that the man and his wife are erasing each other's names from the list suggests that there is some sort of power struggle going on between them. This struggle is not just about who has control over the list, but about who has control over the relationship.

Finally, the poem explores the idea of mortality. The fact that the couple is erasing each other's names from the list of the dead suggests that they are trying to deny their own mortality. This is a common theme in surrealism, which often explores the fear of death and the desire for immortality.

In conclusion, "Erasing Amyloo" is a surreal masterpiece that explores themes of memory, power, and mortality. It is a poem that rewards careful reading and interpretation, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest aspects of the human experience.

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