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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"English Flavors" by Laure-Anne Bosselaar is a richly textured poem that celebrates the sensory pleasures of language, drawing a vivid parallel between the act of tasting words and the experience of savoring food. Through her personal narrative of childhood memories and the discovery of English words, Bosselaar explores themes of language acquisition, the physicality of speech, and the power of words to evoke complex emotional and sensory responses. The poem begins with a nostalgic recollection of the speaker's childhood, where licking hard, round licorice sticks given by Belgian nuns is likened to her enjoyment of the English language. This comparison sets the tone for the entire poem, emphasizing the tactile, gustatory experience of language. The licorice sticks, a reward for good conduct, become a symbol for the pleasure and reward found in the mastery and enjoyment of words. Bosselaar's delight in words such as ‘plethora’, ‘indolence’, ‘damask’, and ‘lasciviousness’ is conveyed through the vivid description of how these words stain her tongue and thicken her saliva, mirroring the physical experience of eating. This sensory engagement with language highlights the speaker's deep appreciation for the aesthetic qualities of words, their sounds, and their meanings. The transformation of licorice sticks into "sticky spikes" that the speaker brandishes with pride evokes the power of language to serve as both a tool and a weapon, a means of self-expression and defiance. The reference to the "ebony crucifix in the dorm" juxtaposes the religious context of her upbringing with the secular pleasure she finds in words, suggesting a form of rebellion or liberation through language. Bosselaar's description of words such as ‘amuck,’ ‘awkward,’ and ‘knuckles’ as having "jaw-breaker flavors" further expands the metaphor of tasting language, associating the physicality of speech with the act of eating. The mention of "honey in ‘hunter’s moon,’" "hot pepper in ‘hunk,’" and the "aromas of almonds and milk" in ‘mellifluous’ showcases her ability to conjure a wide range of sensory experiences through the sound and meaning of words. The poem concludes with the speaker's reflection on the ongoing process of engaging with English, "rolling, bending and shaping" the language in her mouth as if it were a tangible substance. The repetition of syllables like "acts of contrition" suggests a ritualistic, almost penitential approach to language, while the image of sticking out her "new tongue – flavored and sharp – to the ambiguities of meaning" speaks to the transformative power of language to alter perception and challenge understanding. "English Flavors" is a celebration of the visceral, embodied experience of language, and Laure-Anne Bosselaar's skillful use of metaphor and imagery invites readers to consider the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by our sensory experiences. Through her exploration of English words, Bosselaar reveals the rich tapestry of flavors, textures, and sounds that language comprises, offering a unique perspective on the act of speaking and the pleasure of linguistic discovery. POEM TEXT: https://www.inspirationalstories.com/poems/english-flavors-laure-anne-bosselaar-poem/
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOWYOUBEENS' by TERRANCE HAYES MY LIFE: REASON LOOKS FOR TWO, THEN ARRANGES IT FROM THERE by LYN HEJINIAN THE FATALIST: THE BEST WORDS by LYN HEJINIAN WRITING IS AN AID TO MEMORY: 17 by LYN HEJINIAN CANADA IN ENGLISH by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA THERE IS NO WORD by TONY HOAGLAND CONSIDERED SPEECH by JOHN HOLLANDER AND MOST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK ?Ǫ by JOHN HOLLANDER |
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