Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"O'Clock" by Fanny Howe, a contemporary American poet. The poem was first published in 2005 as part of her poetry collection "The Lyrics".

Explanation:

The poem captures the speaker's thoughts as they reflect on the passing of time and the urgency to live in the moment. The poem is a reflection on the cyclical nature of time and the desire to make the most of the present. The speaker also contemplates the idea of eternity and how it relates to the finite nature of human life.

Form: Free verse, One long stanza

Themes: Time, Mortality, The present moment, Eternity

Imagery: The passing of time, The cyclical nature of tim, The present moment, Eternity

Tone: Reflective, Contemplative, Meditative

Sound: Use of repetition, Use of alliterationLanguage: Use of simple, accessible language, Use of metaphor and imagery

Figurative Language: Metaphor: "Time is eternity",

 Personification: "Time moves along"

Structure: Free verse with irregular line lengths, One long stanza with no punctuation, Use of internal rhyme

Symbolism: The clock symbolizes the passage of time, The idea of eternity symbolizes the infinite nature of time and existence

Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of urgency to live in the present moment and make the most of the time we have, The contemplative and reflective tone of the poem may also evoke a sense of nostalgia or melancholy.

Conclusion:

 "O'Clock" by Fanny Howe is a reflective and meditative poem on the passage of time and the importance of living in the present moment. The use of repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme creates a musical quality to the poem, which complements its contemplative tone. The metaphor of time being eternity and the use of the clock as a symbol further emphasize the poem's themes of time, mortality, and the infinite nature of existence.

Poem Snippet:

"Everywhere in the fields that surround me

there are signs of life, signs of death, and

the heavens remain impervious, the hours,

O' clock and on, pass quickly as memory."

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