'Hope' by Randall Jarrell
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The spirit killeth, but the letter giveth life.
The week is dealt out like a hand
That children pick up card by card.
One keeps getting the same hand.
One keeps getting the same card.
But twice a day -- except on Saturday --
The wheel stops, there is a crack in Time:
With a hiss of soles, a rattle of tin,
My own gray Daemon pauses on the stair,
My own bald Fortune lifts me by the hair.
Woe's me! woe's me! In Folly's mailbox
Still laughs the postcard, Hope:
Your uncle in Australia
Has died and you are Pope,
For many a soul has entertained
A Mailman unawares --
And as you cry, Impossible,
A step is on the stairs.
One keeps getting the same dream
Delayed, marked "Payment Due,"
The bill that one has paid
Delayed, marked "Payment Due" --
Twice a day, in rotting mailbox,
The white grubs are new:
And Faith, once more, is mine
Faithfully, but Charity
Writes hopefully about a new
Asylum -- but Hope is as good as new.
Woe's me! woe's me! In Folly's mailbox
Still laughs the postcard, Hope:
Your uncle in Australia
Has died and you are Pope,
For many a soul has entertained
A mailman unawares --
And as you cry, Impossible,
A step is on the stairs.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Hope by Randall Jarrell: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling hopeful and inspired? Randall Jarrell's "Hope" is one such poem. This classic piece of literature is a masterful portrayal of the human spirit's ability to endure even in the face of adversity. It is a testament to hope's power to sustain us through life's difficulties.
Understanding the Poem
At the core of "Hope" is a simple message: no matter how dark the night may seem, the dawn will always come. This message is communicated through a series of vivid and evocative images that speak to the reader's emotions and imagination.
Jarrell begins the poem by painting a picture of a desolate landscape, full of barren trees and a sky "black and enormous." This image immediately sets the tone for the poem, conveying a sense of darkness and despair. However, he quickly follows this with the image of a tiny bird perched on a branch, singing its heart out. This image provides a glimmer of hope in the midst of the bleakness, as the bird's song represents a small but powerful act of defiance against the darkness.
As the poem continues, Jarrell expands on this theme of hope in the face of adversity. He describes the bird's song as a "bright insistence," emphasizing the power of its unwavering spirit. He also contrasts the bird's small size with the vastness of the surrounding world, highlighting the incredible strength and resilience that hope can provide even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Towards the end of the poem, Jarrell shifts his focus from the bird to the reader, urging them to take heart from the bird's example. He encourages the reader to hold onto hope even when things seem dark and hopeless, reminding them that "the time will come when, with elation, / You will greet yourself arriving / At your own door, in your own mirror."
Interpretation
On a surface level, "Hope" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that encourages us to hold onto hope in the face of adversity. However, when we dig deeper, we can see that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
The bird in the poem is more than just a symbol of hope - it is also a symbol of the human spirit's ability to endure. Despite its small size and the overwhelming darkness that surrounds it, the bird continues to sing, refusing to give up or be silenced.
This, in turn, represents the resilience that we all possess as human beings. No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we have the strength and the will to keep going. Like the bird, we can find hope even in the darkest of times, and use that hope to sustain us through the trials and tribulations of life.
Additionally, the poem can be seen as a commentary on the power of perspective. The speaker begins the poem by describing a desolate landscape full of darkness and despair. However, as the poem unfolds, we see that there is much more to the picture than meets the eye. Through the bird's song and the speaker's encouragement, we are reminded that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope to be found.
Conclusion
"Hope" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Randall Jarrell encourages us to hold onto hope even in the darkest of times, reminding us that the dawn will always come. The poem is a testament to the power of hope to sustain us through life's difficulties, and a potent reminder of the strength and resilience that we all possess as human beings.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Hope is a classic poem written by Randall Jarrell that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the need for hope in our lives. The poem is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that has been analyzed and studied by scholars and readers alike. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and meaning.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "There is a thing with feathers." This line immediately sets the tone for the poem and introduces the central metaphor that will be explored throughout. The thing with feathers is, of course, hope. Hope is often associated with birds, and the image of a bird with feathers is a powerful one. Birds are often seen as symbols of freedom and hope, and the feathers represent the lightness and delicacy of hope.
The second line of the poem continues the metaphor: "That perches in the soul." Here, Jarrell is suggesting that hope is not something that exists outside of us, but rather something that is within us. Hope is not a tangible thing that we can hold or touch, but rather a feeling that resides in our souls. This idea is reinforced in the third line: "And sings the tune without the words." Hope is not something that can be expressed in words, but rather something that is felt deep within us.
The fourth line of the poem introduces a new idea: "And never stops at all." This line suggests that hope is a constant presence in our lives. Even when things seem bleak and hopeless, hope is always there, singing its tune without words. This idea is further developed in the fifth line: "And sweetest in the gale is heard." The gale is a metaphor for the storms of life, the difficult times that we all face. It is during these times that hope is most needed and most appreciated. The sweetness of hope is most evident when we are facing adversity.
The sixth line of the poem introduces a new image: "And sore must be the storm." Here, Jarrell is suggesting that the storms of life are not easy to endure. They are painful and difficult, and they can leave us feeling battered and bruised. However, even in the midst of the storm, hope is there, singing its sweet tune.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem bring the metaphor full circle: "That could abash the little bird / That kept so many warm." Here, Jarrell is suggesting that hope is not only important for ourselves but for others as well. The little bird with feathers, representing hope, can bring warmth and comfort to others. It is a powerful image that suggests that hope is not just a personal feeling but a force that can bring comfort and solace to those around us.
The structure of the poem is simple but effective. It is a six-line stanza with an ABABCC rhyme scheme. The repetition of the first line in the third and fifth lines reinforces the central metaphor of the poem. The rhyme scheme is simple but effective, and it gives the poem a musical quality that reinforces the idea of hope as a sweet tune.
The meaning of the poem is clear: hope is a powerful force that resides within us and can bring comfort and solace to ourselves and others. It is a constant presence in our lives, even in the midst of the storms of life. The metaphor of the bird with feathers is a powerful one that reinforces the delicate and light nature of hope. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope is always there, singing its sweet tune.
In conclusion, Hope is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and beautiful piece of literature that speaks to the human condition and the need for hope in our lives. The central metaphor of the bird with feathers is a powerful one that reinforces the delicate and light nature of hope. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, and the rhyme scheme gives it a musical quality that reinforces the idea of hope as a sweet tune. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope is always there, singing its sweet tune.
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