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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Be Kind" by Michael Blumenthal is a lyrical exhortation to embrace kindness not only as a moral imperative but as a profound philosophical stance towards life and our interactions with others. This poem, while seemingly simple in its directive, delves into the complex interplay between personal actions and their broader impact on the world. Blumenthal elegantly weaves together references to literature, nature, and personal conduct to argue that kindness is a fundamental component of a life well-lived and a society well-ordered. The poem begins with a nod to Henry James, who famously suggested that the rules of life could be distilled into a single command repeated four times: "be kind." This repetition underscores the paramount importance of kindness in James's view, serving as a foundational principle from which all other virtues can flow. Blumenthal extends this idea, suggesting that kindness is not just a personal virtue but a collective audition for a "worthier world." This phrase captures the aspirational nature of kindness—it is a practice through which we demonstrate our worthiness for a world that is better than the one we currently inhabit. Blumenthal acknowledges the "vagueness and uncertainty" of kindness's recompense. The metaphor of a bird wandering into a bush before our houses illustrates the unpredictable and often indirect ways in which acts of kindness may be repaid. This unpredictability does not detract from the value of kindness; rather, it adds a dimension of faith and perseverance to the practice of being kind, suggesting that the outcomes of our actions often extend beyond our immediate perception. The poem also touches on the themes of abundance and scarcity, the "feasts of famine and feasts of plenty," suggesting that the distinction between these states may be less significant than we think. This perspective invites a reevaluation of our relationship with material and spiritual wealth, proposing that kindness can bridge the gap between abundance and need, creating a unified experience of life's vicissitudes. Blumenthal's call to "inundate the particular world with minute particulars" emphasizes the importance of small, everyday acts of kindness. These actions, though seemingly insignificant, accumulate to form the "happiest possible dust," a metaphor for the legacy we leave behind. The poem suggests that even in our impermanence, we have the power to contribute to a collective "detritus of blessedness," a world enriched by our kindness. The references to the hedgehog and the wicked witches of childhood fairy tales serve to illustrate the transformative power of kindness. The hedgehog, with its capacity to unfurl at a gentle touch, symbolizes the potential for defense mechanisms to be relaxed in the presence of kindness. The demise of the wicked witches signifies the triumph of kindness over malice and fear, suggesting that the historical accumulation of kind acts has the power to eclipse past misdeeds. In the closing lines, Blumenthal addresses the reader directly, urging a generous and unrestrained practice of kindness. This appeal to profligacy in kindness challenges the often-held notion that resources—emotional or otherwise—are finite and must be guarded. Instead, the poem posits that kindness enriches both the giver and the receiver, contradicting the fear that it might leave us "vulnerable and unfurled." "Be Kind" is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of kindness, both as a personal practice and a societal value. Through its lyrical exploration of kindness's complexities and contradictions, the poem encourages readers to act with generosity and compassion, positing these virtues as essential for the creation of a more just and loving world.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE SAKE OF STRANGERS by DORIANNE LAUX A CONSIDERABLE SPECK by ROBERT FROST BUT I DO NOT NEED KINDNESS by GREGORY NUNZIO CORSO HER DILEMMA; IN CHURCH by THOMAS HARDY |
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