Meaning of this poem?

travispickle · Apr 20, 2009

Hello all,

I need to figure out how to do a formalist analysis of this poem or I will be boiled in oil! I'm looking for things like meaning, tone, theme, symbols, etc. Please help...

WHILE yet we wait for spring, and from the dry
And blackening east that so embitters March,
Well-housed must watch grey fields and meadows parch,
And driven dust and withering snowflake fly;
Already in glimpses of the tarnish'd sky
The sun is warm and beckons to the larch,
And where the covert hazels interarch
Their tassell'd twigs, fair beds of primrose lie. Beneath the crisp and wintry carpet hid
A million buds but stay their blossoming;
And trustful birds have built their nests amid
The shuddering boughs, and only wait to sing
Till one soft shower from the south shall bid,
And hither tempt the pilgrim steps of spring.

Robert Bridges

poetinahat · Apr 21, 2009

Er, are you asking people to do an assignment for you?

CACTUSWENDY · Apr 21, 2009

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.

How do you like your popcorn?

I agree with Poetinahat......lol.

What does it say to you?

Deleted member 42 · Apr 21, 2009

poetinahat said:
Er, are you asking people to do an assignment for you?

Pretty much, yep.

Here's a little help.

Feiss · Apr 21, 2009

I think it's a portrait of post USSR Russia, the struggles of an embittered March, the dearth of a Russian Spring. The "well-housed" Kremlin and KGB must wait for the snow to melt, then they will overtake the East and a new revolution shall happen. Even the author's name is significant "bridges", the bridge between the past and future mother Russia

Priene · Apr 22, 2009

Feiss said:
I think it's a portrait of post USSR Russia, the struggles of an embittered March, the dearth of a Russian Spring. The "well-housed" Kremlin and KGB must wait for the snow to melt, then they will overtake the East and a new revolution shall happen. Even the author's name is significant "bridges", the bridge between the past and future mother Russia

I've always seen it as an examination of a Mycenaean warrior's shame at having survived his king's death. In this interpretation spring is Troy, the tarnish'd sky is Helen's boudoir and the shuddering boughs are Odysseus's embarrassment at finding Circe has stolen his underwear.

poetinahat · Apr 22, 2009

I think it might be about last-semester midterms when Senioritis is setting in.

A. Hamilton · Apr 22, 2009

it's obviously about pickles.

dgrintalis · Apr 22, 2009

You all have it wrong. Come now, it's obvious. It's about recovering from a hangover.

ddgryphon · Apr 23, 2009

P.H.Delarran said:
it's obviously about pickles.

Or cigars. It's almost always about pickles or cigars--except when it's about trains and tunnels.

Poetoffire · Apr 23, 2009

I'm pretty sure the deepest analysis of this poem is that "the dry" is grade reports, "embittered March" stands for an angry student, "blackening east" is what happens when the student is caught cheating by asking for help on a writing forum. "Convert hazels interarch" stands for all the people who are not duped by the posting on a poetry board and refuse to help you.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 23, 2009

Poetoffire said:
"Convert hazels interarch" stands for all the people who are not duped by the posting on a poetry board and refuse to help you.

Hey! I offered useful practical advice!

Feiss · Apr 23, 2009

Priene said:
I've always seen it as an examination of a Mycenaean warrior's shame at having survived his king's death. In this interpretation spring is Troy, the tarnish'd sky is Helen's boudoir and the shuddering boughs are Odysseus's embarrassment at finding Circe has stolen his underwear.

You're insane, totally insane, nothing by Robert Bridges has been seen as a warrior's shame since 1997. PLEASE update your historical interpretations of nature poetry. PLEASE. Any community college course will do. For God's sake, you've totally ignored the heart wrenching symbolism of "trustful birds", and what about the significance of "pilgrim steps" relating to the hesitant steps that post Cold War USSR has taken toward capitalism and the "temptation" and ultimate downfall the steps represent!!!???

Feiss · Apr 23, 2009

P.H.Delarran said:
it's obviously about pickles.

Good lord, anything is about pickles at some point. The pickle of a struggling people, the vineagar broth of a country they're left with, the population trodden and bobbing atop the bureaucracy like warty cucumbers.

Joycecwilliams · Apr 26, 2009

It is about sexual awakening..

Wayne K · Apr 27, 2009

P.H.Delarran said:
it's obviously about pickles.

with whiskey breath.

kdnxdr · Apr 27, 2009

Travis just might be in a pickle.

Deleted member 42 · May 3, 2009

kdnxdr said:
Travis just might be in a pickle.

Travis?

Travis Tea the famous author of the brilliant theoretical novel Atlanta Nights?

ZOMG I'm so excited!

scarletpeaches · May 3, 2009

Lisa just said "ZOMG."

I shall now kill myself.

Deleted member 42 · May 3, 2009

scarletpeaches said:
Lisa just said "ZOMG."

I shall now kill myself.

Oh dear. Shall I edit?

scarletpeaches · May 3, 2009

Nah, I've decided not to kill myself. It's more fun living, and laughing at you turning girly.

I bet you twirled your hair round one finger before posting that.

Meaning of this poem?

travispickle

poetinahat

Numbers are beautiful

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Deleted member 42

Feiss

Sleeps during the day

Priene

Out to lunch

poetinahat

Numbers are beautiful

A. Hamilton

here for a minute...catch me?

dgrintalis

'Tis true, she is a monstergirl

ddgryphon

King of Sloth Town

Poetoffire

Professional Cynic

Deleted member 42

Feiss

Sleeps during the day

Feiss

Sleeps during the day

Joycecwilliams

Wayne K

kdnxdr

One of the most important people in the world

Deleted member 42

scarletpeaches

Deleted member 42

scarletpeaches