Anaphora Poem by Elizabeth Bishop
Anaphora
Each day with so much ceremony
begins, with birds, with bells,
with whistles from a factory;
such white-gold skies our eyes
first open on, such brilliant walls
that for a moment we wonder
'Where is the music coming from, the energy?
The day was meant for what ineffable creature
we must have missed? ' Oh promptly he
appears and takes his earthly nature
instantly, instantly falls
victim of long intrigue,
assuming memory and mortal
mortal fatigue.
More slowly falling into sight
and showering into stippled faces,
darkening, condensing all his light;
in spite of all the dreaming
squandered upon him with that look,
suffers our uses and abuses,
sinks through the drift of bodies,
sinks through the drift of classes
to evening to the beggar in the park
who, weary, without lamp or book
prepares stupendous studies:
the fiery event
of every day in endless
endless assent.
traces ethereal life-journey from its beginning in limitless potential to its hard-scrapple comeuppance in reality, at day's end.. A rich and characteristically whimsical comment on the human condition. Equals Milton's translation of the Horace ode. Not so hard to memorize, either- always a good prognostic in a poem. Superb, and (maybe) under-appreciated.
One of the greatest poems in the English language! . Avowedly non-political and imaginative. MM
I'm quite sure that poem wasn't Pulitzer material, though, rolls of boredom! I pass on this one! !
Anaphora, the name of this title is so rich and beautiful that I am certain few understand. An anaphora is a poetical device, if you will-a repetition of words, that creates a sentimentality towards those words. In this poem the anaphors are 'mortal' and 'endless', so please, reread this poem and pay special attention to those two words. Elizabeth Bishop was a beautiful genius, and this poem is a true example to that.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/15/2024 7:36:06 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Extraordinary poem. She has not locked herself into one way of writing or one over-riding theme. Her voice even varies to fit the soul of each poem. I am now a fan