'Story' by Stephen Dunn
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Different Hours2000A woman's taking her late-afternoon walk
on Chestnut where no sidewalk exists
and houses with gravel driveways
sit back among the pines. Only the house
with the vicious dog is close to the road.
An electric fence keeps him in check.
When she comes to that house, the woman
always crosses to the other side.I'm the woman's husband. It's a problem
loving your protagonist too much.
Soon the dog is going to break through
that fence, teeth bared, and go for my wife.
She will be helpless. I'm out of town,
helpless too. Here comes the dog.
What kind of dog? A mad dog, a dog
like one of those teenagers who just loses it
on the playground, kills a teacher.Something's going to happen that can't happen
in a good story: out of nowhere a car
comes and kills the dog. The dog flies
in the air, lands in a patch of delphiniums.
My wife is crying now. The woman who hit
the dog has gotten out of her car. She holds
both hands to her face. The woman who owns
the dog has run out of her house. Three women
crying in the street, each for different reasons.All of this is so unlikely; it's as if
I've found myself in a country of pure fact,
miles from truth's more demanding realm.
When I listened to my wife's story on the phone
I knew I'd take it from her, tell it
every which way until it had an order
and a deceptive period at the end. That's what
I always do in the face of helplessness,
make some arrangements if I can.Praise the odd, serendipitous world.
Nothing I'd be inclined to think of
would have stopped that dog.
Only the facts saved her.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Poetry, Story" by Stephen Dunn: A Masterful Exploration of Life and Art
As a literary critic and poet, I have read countless works of poetry, but few have left me as deeply moved as Stephen Dunn's "Poetry, Story." Published in 1989 as part of Dunn's collection "Local Time," this poem is a masterful exploration of the relationship between life and art, and the ways in which poetry can both reflect and shape our understanding of the world.
At its core, "Poetry, Story" is a meditation on the power of narrative to give meaning to our lives. The poem begins with Dunn describing a speaker who is "telling a story," and goes on to explore the various ways in which we create stories about ourselves and the world around us. We tell stories to make sense of our experiences, to connect with others, and to give our lives a sense of continuity and purpose.
But as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that Dunn is not simply interested in the personal narratives we construct for ourselves. He is also fascinated by the ways in which we use language to create broader cultural narratives, and how those narratives can both reflect and shape our understanding of the world.
Throughout the poem, Dunn uses a range of literary techniques to explore these themes. He employs vivid imagery and sensory details to draw us into the world of the story, and uses repetition and anaphora to create a sense of momentum and urgency. At the same time, he also uses ambiguity and paradox to challenge our assumptions and force us to confront the limitations of our own understanding.
One of the most striking features of "Poetry, Story" is the way in which Dunn seamlessly blends the personal and the universal. Through the speaker's story, he explores themes of love, loss, and mortality that are deeply resonant on a personal level. But at the same time, he also uses the story to make larger points about the human condition and our relationship to the world around us.
For example, one of the most poignant moments in the poem comes when the speaker describes the loss of a loved one:
That's what I told her, and as I spoke I felt as if it were all happening again: the icy sidewalk underfoot, the wipers groaning back and forth across the windshield, the willow branches arcing over the street.
In these lines, Dunn manages to capture not just the pain of personal loss, but also the way in which that loss becomes intertwined with our understanding of the world. The image of the willow branches arcing over the street is particularly powerful, as it suggests both the beauty and transience of life.
At the same time, Dunn also uses the speaker's story to make more general observations about the role of poetry in our lives. Throughout the poem, he suggests that poetry can help us to make sense of our experiences, to connect with others, and to find meaning in a world that can often seem chaotic and meaningless.
One of the most striking examples of this comes towards the end of the poem, when the speaker describes the act of writing poetry:
I could tell you how I felt,
but then you'd see me as a man who felt that way.
It's better to tell you what's in the room,
the room I've built from words.
Here, Dunn suggests that poetry has the power to transcend the limitations of individual experience, and to create a shared language that can help us to understand one another. By building a room from words, the speaker is able to create a space in which we can all exist, regardless of our individual perspectives or experiences.
As a whole, "Poetry, Story" is a testament to the power of language to both reflect and shape our understanding of the world. Through its exploration of personal and cultural narratives, it offers a powerful meditation on the human condition, and on the ways in which poetry can help us to navigate the complexities of our lives.
In conclusion, "Poetry, Story" is a true masterpiece of contemporary poetry. Through its evocative imagery, powerful themes, and masterful use of language, it offers a profound meditation on the relationship between life and art, and reminds us of the vital role that poetry can play in our lives. Whether you are a seasoned reader of poetry or a newcomer to the genre, this poem is sure to leave you deeply moved and inspired.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Stephen Dunn’s “Poetry Story” is a classic poem that explores the relationship between the poet and his craft. The poem is a reflection on the creative process and the challenges that come with it. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every writer, artist, and creative person who has ever struggled to find their voice and express themselves through their art.
The poem begins with the poet describing his early experiences with poetry. He talks about how he was drawn to poetry as a young man, and how he would spend hours reading and writing poems. He describes the joy he felt when he discovered that he had a talent for writing, and how he was filled with a sense of purpose and meaning.
However, as the poem progresses, the poet begins to describe the challenges that he faced as a writer. He talks about how he struggled to find his voice, and how he often felt like he was writing in the dark. He describes the frustration and disappointment that he felt when his poems were rejected by publishers, and how he began to doubt his own abilities as a writer.
Despite these challenges, the poet perseveres. He continues to write, even when it feels like he is writing into a void. He describes how he learned to trust his own instincts and to write from the heart, rather than trying to please others. He talks about how he found inspiration in the world around him, and how he learned to see beauty in the ordinary.
The poem ends with the poet reflecting on his journey as a writer. He talks about how he has come to understand that writing is not just about the finished product, but about the process of creation itself. He describes how writing has become a part of who he is, and how it has given him a sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Overall, “Poetry Story” is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the heart of every creative person. It is a poem that reminds us of the challenges and joys of the creative process, and of the importance of perseverance and self-belief. It is a poem that encourages us to trust our own instincts and to find inspiration in the world around us. And, most importantly, it is a poem that reminds us that writing is not just about the finished product, but about the journey of self-discovery and self-expression.
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