'Snake' by John Burnside
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As cats bring their smiling
mouse-kills and hypnotised birds,slinking home under the lightof a summer's morning
to offer the gift of a corpse,you carry home the snake you thoughtwas sunning itself on a rock
at the river's edge:sun-fretted, gracile,
it shimmies and sways in your handslike a muscle of light,
and you gather it up like a braidfor my admiration.I can't shake the old wife's talethat snakes never die,
they hang in a seamless dreamof frogskin and water,
preserving a ribbon of heatin a bone or a vein,
a cold-blooded creature'spromise of resurrection,and I'm amazed to see you shuffle off
the woman I've know for years,
tracing the lithe, hard body, the hinge of the jaw,the tension where sex might be, that I always assumeis neuter, when I walk our muffled house
at nightfall, throwing switches, locking doors.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Snake" by John Burnside: A layered depiction of human nature
As I read "Snake" by John Burnside, I'm struck by the sheer depth and complexity of this poem. On the surface, it's a simple tale of a man encountering a snake in his garden. But as I delve deeper, I find layers upon layers of meaning, each one revealing a different facet of human nature.
The surface level: A tale of natural wonder
At its most basic level, "Snake" is a celebration of the natural world. Burnside's language is rich and vivid, painting a picture of a lush, vibrant garden teeming with life. The snake, a symbol of primal energy and instinct, is depicted with a sense of awe and wonder:
The snake, like satin, looping in the sun,
Or the soft, grey-blue of the sky, in motion.
The man who encounters the snake is similarly struck by its beauty and power:
I felt the heat of him, the scales, the sense
That this was life, and everything had led
To this – the purest impulse.
The encounter with the snake is a moment of pure connection with the natural world, a reminder of the primal forces that underlie all of existence.
The middle level: A meditation on human desire
But as I read on, I begin to see a deeper layer of meaning in "Snake." The encounter with the snake is not just a celebration of the natural world, but a reflection on the nature of human desire.
The man in the poem is not content to merely observe the snake – he wants to touch it, to possess it in some way. He reaches out to stroke its scales:
I reached towards him, with my heart a stone
And touched his skin – and felt a life beyond
My own.
In this moment, the snake becomes a symbol of the things we desire – the things that we want to possess, to control, to consume. We are drawn to these things with a primal, irresistible force, just as the man in the poem is drawn to touch the snake.
But in trying to possess these things, we risk destroying them. The man's touch startles the snake, causing it to flee:
I touched him – and he hurtled away,
Threading the grass and vanishing through a crack
In the wall, like something lost.
In this moment, the snake becomes a symbol of the things we destroy – the things that we want so desperately that we end up driving them away. Our desire becomes the very thing that destroys what we desire.
The deeper level: A reflection on mortality
And as I read on, I see yet another layer of meaning in "Snake." The encounter with the snake is not just a reflection on human desire, but a meditation on mortality.
The snake, with its sinuous movements and primal energy, is a symbol of life itself. The man in the poem is drawn to its vitality, its sheer force of being. But in touching the snake, he is reminded that all life is fleeting, that everything that lives must one day die:
And then he was gone –
A suddenness that left me standing there,
My hand still out, my heart a stone.
In this moment, the snake becomes a symbol of our own mortality – a reminder that we too are fragile, that our lives are brief and fleeting. And yet, even as we are reminded of our own mortality, we are also reminded of the beauty and vitality of life itself.
Conclusion: A complex, layered poem
As I reach the end of "Snake," I'm struck by the sheer complexity and depth of this poem. It is a celebration of the natural world, a reflection on human desire, and a meditation on mortality – all at the same time. Burnside's language is rich and vivid, and he uses symbols and metaphors to create a poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking.
In the end, "Snake" is a reminder of the complexity and beauty of human nature – of our primal desires, our mortality, and our connection to the natural world. It is a poem that invites us to look beyond the surface, to delve deeper into the layers of meaning that lie beneath. And as we do, we are reminded of the power and wonder of poetry itself, and of the human capacity for meaning and understanding.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Snake: A Masterpiece of Metaphor and Symbolism
John Burnside's "Poetry Snake" is a poem that has captivated readers for decades. It is a masterpiece of metaphor and symbolism, exploring the nature of creativity and the power of language. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language, and explore why it has become such a beloved classic.
The poem begins with a simple image: a snake. But this is no ordinary snake. It is a "poetry snake," a creature that embodies the essence of creativity. The snake is described as "slender and quick," with "a tongue like a pen." These descriptions immediately establish the snake as a symbol of language and writing. The snake's movements are compared to the flow of words on a page, and its tongue is likened to a pen, the tool of the writer.
As the poem progresses, the snake becomes more than just a symbol. It takes on a life of its own, slithering through the landscape and leaving a trail of poetry in its wake. The snake's movements are described in vivid detail, with Burnside using rich imagery to convey the beauty and power of language. For example, the snake's "scales are the colours of ink," and its "body is a line of verse." These descriptions create a sense of wonder and magic, as if the snake is a creature from a fairy tale.
The snake's journey through the landscape is also significant. It moves through "fields and forests, towns and cities," leaving behind a trail of poetry that touches the lives of everyone it encounters. This suggests that creativity is not limited to a particular place or group of people. It is universal, and can be found everywhere, if we are open to it.
The poem's structure is also worth noting. It is divided into three stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza introduces the snake and establishes its significance as a symbol of creativity. The second stanza describes the snake's journey through the landscape, and the impact it has on those it encounters. The third stanza brings the poem to a close, with the snake disappearing into the distance, leaving behind a world transformed by its presence.
The language of the poem is simple yet powerful. Burnside uses a mix of concrete and abstract language to create a sense of both realism and magic. For example, he describes the snake's movements in concrete terms, using words like "slender" and "quick." But he also uses abstract language to convey the snake's impact on the world, describing it as a "force" that "changes everything."
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "the poetry snake" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum. This repetition also reinforces the snake's significance as a symbol of creativity, reminding us of its presence and power.
Another notable feature of the poem is its use of personification. The snake is not just a symbol or a creature, but a character in its own right. It is described as having a personality, with its movements and actions reflecting its mood and intentions. For example, when the snake encounters a "dullard," it "hisses and coils," as if expressing its displeasure at the lack of creativity.
So what is the poem trying to say? At its core, "Poetry Snake" is a celebration of creativity and the power of language. It suggests that creativity is not something that can be contained or controlled, but a force that can transform the world. The snake's journey through the landscape represents the journey of the creative spirit, moving through different environments and touching the lives of different people.
The poem also suggests that creativity is not limited to a particular group of people or a particular place. It is universal, and can be found everywhere, if we are open to it. The snake's encounters with different people and environments suggest that creativity can be sparked by anything, from a beautiful landscape to a chance encounter with a stranger.
In conclusion, "Poetry Snake" is a masterpiece of metaphor and symbolism, exploring the nature of creativity and the power of language. Its vivid imagery, simple yet powerful language, and use of repetition and personification create a sense of wonder and magic, as if the poem itself is a work of art. It is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers, reminding us of the transformative power of creativity.
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