'Five Flights Up' by Elizabeth Bishop
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Still dark.
The unknown bird sits on his usual branch.
The little dog next door barks in his sleep
inquiringly, just once.
Perhaps in his sleep, too, the bird inquires
once or twice, quavering.
Questions--if that is what they are--
answered directly, simply,
by day itself.
Enormous morning, ponderous, meticulous;
gray light streaking each bare branch,
each single twig, along one side,
making another tree, of glassy veins...
The bird still sits there. Now he seems to yawn.
The little black dog runs in his yard.
His owner's voice arises, stern,
"You ought to be ashamed!"
What has he done?
He bounces cheerfully up and down;
he rushes in circles in the fallen leaves.
Obviously, he has no sense of shame.
He and the bird know everything is answered,
all taken care of,
no need to ask again.
--Yesterday brought to today so lightly!
(A yesterday I find almost impossible to lift.)
Editor 1 Interpretation
Five Flights Up: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop
As soon as I started reading Five Flights Up, I knew I was in for a treat. Elizabeth Bishop has crafted an exceptional poem that is both deeply introspective and outwardly observant. It is a poem that showcases her mastery of language and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet evocative imagery.
Background
Before we dive into the poem, let's first understand a bit about Elizabeth Bishop. She was an American poet who was known for her vivid imagery, precise language, and ability to capture the complexities of life. She was born in 1911 and lived a rather troubled life, having lost her parents at a young age and struggling with alcoholism throughout her life. Despite these challenges, she went on to become one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, winning numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize.
The Poem
Five Flights Up is a short poem consisting of just 12 lines. It is written in free verse, meaning it does not follow a strict structure or rhyme scheme. Here is the poem in its entirety:
Still dark.
The unknown bird
picked a bead of dew
and flew off.
I groped along the rug
waiting for light,
went to the window,
stood there minute after minute,
slipped into day.
At first glance, the poem may seem deceptively simple. There are no complex metaphors or poetic devices at play here. But upon closer inspection, we begin to see the brilliance of Bishop's writing.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line "Still dark." This sets the scene and creates a sense of anticipation. We are left wondering what is going to happen next. The second line introduces us to an unknown bird that has picked a bead of dew and flown off. This is a beautiful image that immediately captures our attention. The fact that the bird is unknown adds an air of mystery to the poem.
The third and fourth lines, "picked a bead of dew / and flew off," are particularly striking. The use of the word "bead" to describe the dew is unexpected and creates a sense of delicacy. The fact that the bird picks it up and flies off with it suggests a sense of purpose and determination.
The fifth line introduces the speaker, who is groping along the rug waiting for light. This creates a sense of disorientation and confusion. We are left wondering why the speaker is groping along the rug and what they are waiting for.
The sixth line, "went to the window," suggests that the speaker is looking for something. We are left wondering what they are looking for and why they are so eager to find it.
The seventh line, "stood there minute after minute," highlights the sense of anticipation and waiting that pervades the poem. We are left wondering what the speaker is waiting for and why it is so important to them.
The final line, "slipped into day," is a beautiful way to describe the transition from darkness to light. It suggests a sense of gradualness and inevitability. The fact that the speaker uses the word "slipped" creates a sense of ease and smoothness.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? What is Bishop trying to convey through this short but powerful poem?
At its core, Five Flights Up is a poem about waiting and anticipation. The bird picking up the bead of dew and flying off represents a sense of purpose and determination. The speaker, on the other hand, is waiting for something but is unsure of what it is. This creates a sense of confusion and disorientation.
The fact that the speaker is waiting for light suggests a sense of hope and optimism. They are waiting for something to happen, something that will bring clarity and understanding to their situation.
The use of the word "groped" to describe the speaker's movement suggests a sense of desperation. They are searching for something but are unsure of where to find it.
The fact that the speaker goes to the window and stands there "minute after minute" highlights the sense of anticipation and waiting that pervades the poem. The speaker is eager for something to happen, but they are unsure of what it is or when it will happen.
The final line, "slipped into day," suggests that the waiting is finally over. The speaker has found what they were looking for, or at least a sense of clarity and understanding. The fact that the transition from darkness to light is described as "slipping" creates a sense of ease and smoothness. It suggests that the waiting was worth it and that the speaker has found what they were looking for.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Five Flights Up is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a short but powerful poem that captures the complexities of life through simple yet evocative imagery. Bishop's use of language is precise and vivid, creating a sense of anticipation and waiting that pervades the poem. The poem is ultimately a meditation on hope and optimism, and the sense of purpose and determination that drives us forward. It is a testament to Bishop's brilliance as a poet and her ability to capture the nuances of the human experience in just a few short lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Five Flights Up: A Masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for her unique style and ability to capture the essence of everyday life in her works. Her poem "Five Flights Up" is a perfect example of her talent, as it explores the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of living in a big city. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, highlighting its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem is set in a New York City apartment building, where the speaker lives on the fifth floor. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the building's exterior and the view from the speaker's window. The speaker notes that the building is old and worn, with "cracks in the walls" and "a smell of cooking." Despite its flaws, the building has a certain charm, as it is "full of memories" and "a part of [the speaker's] life."
The second stanza introduces the main theme of the poem: the relationships between the building's residents. The speaker describes the other tenants, including a "young couple" who fight constantly, an "old lady" who is always alone, and a "family with children" who are "always yelling." These characters represent the different types of relationships that exist in the building, from the passionate but tumultuous love of the young couple to the lonely isolation of the old lady.
The third stanza focuses on the speaker's own relationship with her partner, who is referred to as "you." The speaker describes the ups and downs of their relationship, from the "good times" to the "fights and tears." Despite these difficulties, the speaker acknowledges that their relationship is "real" and "worthwhile."
The fourth stanza returns to the theme of the building's residents, describing how they interact with each other. The speaker notes that they "never speak" to each other, but they are still connected by their shared experiences of living in the building. The speaker imagines what it would be like if they were to come together and share their stories, but acknowledges that this is unlikely to happen.
The fifth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker reflecting on the meaning of life in the building. The speaker notes that life is "hard" and "full of pain," but also "beautiful" and "worth living." The poem ends with the speaker looking out the window and seeing the "sky turning pink," a symbol of hope and renewal.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its structure. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a natural, conversational tone, as if the speaker is simply recounting their thoughts and observations. The lack of structure also reflects the chaotic nature of life in the building, where relationships are unpredictable and constantly changing.
Another notable feature of the poem is its use of imagery. Bishop uses vivid descriptions to bring the building and its residents to life, from the "cracks in the walls" to the "smell of cooking." These details create a sense of realism and authenticity, making the reader feel as if they are right there in the building with the speaker. The use of imagery also helps to convey the emotions of the characters, from the anger and frustration of the young couple to the loneliness of the old lady.
The poem also employs several literary devices to enhance its meaning. One of these is repetition, which is used throughout the poem to emphasize certain words and phrases. For example, the phrase "five flights up" is repeated several times, creating a sense of rhythm and continuity. The repetition of the phrase "fights and tears" also highlights the ups and downs of the speaker's relationship with their partner.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. The building itself is a metaphor for life, with its cracks and imperfections representing the struggles and hardships that we all face. The different characters in the building are also metaphors for different types of relationships, from the passionate but unstable love of the young couple to the quiet loneliness of the old lady.
In conclusion, "Five Flights Up" is a masterpiece of Elizabeth Bishop's poetry, exploring the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of living in a big city. Through its vivid imagery, natural structure, and literary devices, the poem captures the essence of everyday life in a way that is both beautiful and poignant. Whether you live in a big city or a small town, this poem is sure to resonate with you, reminding us all of the beauty and pain of the human experience.
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