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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
In "The Hands," Robert Creeley encapsulates a striking, albeit minimalistic, expression of detachment and displacement. The poem’s brevity belies a complex exploration of themes surrounding identity, intimacy, and the lingering marks of physical connection. The directive tone in “Take the hands off of it” suggests a desire to separate oneself from an object or a memory—something deeply personal, represented by “it,” which is left intentionally vague. This lack of specificity implies universality; “it” could signify a relationship, a memory, or an experience, urging the reader to project their own interpretations onto the scene. The phrase “and throw them so that they re-occur” introduces a sense of repetition or cyclical behavior, where experiences or memories are not simply discarded but are somehow transferred, perhaps onto another relationship or another person. “Elsewhere on some other woman” suggests a transfer of emotional or physical attachment, possibly hinting at the transitory nature of relationships or the patterns people unconsciously carry from one bond to another. This shifting of “hands” implies that the speaker’s actions or emotional imprints will reappear in new contexts, continually cycling through human interactions. Creeley’s concise language here reflects his mastery in evoking complex emotions with minimal words. The image of “hands” being removed and “thrown” denotes both a physical and metaphorical shedding of attachment, yet the notion that they “re-occur” implies that one can never truly leave behind their actions or emotions; they persist, finding new expressions and connections elsewhere. Through this stark, almost clinical approach, Creeley confronts the inevitability of emotional residues that linger, subtly influencing new relationships and the ways people connect with one another. In "The Hands," he deftly explores the intersection between individuality and interconnectedness, capturing the bittersweet reality of moving forward while remaining tethered, however faintly, to the past.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY FATHER, MY HANDS by RICHARD BLANCO MY MOTHER'S HANDS by ANDREW HUDGINS I WAS BORN WITH TWELVE FINGERS by LUCILLE CLIFTON TEN OXHERDING PICTURES: A MEDITATION by LUCILLE CLIFTON FIFTH GRADE AUTOBIOGRAPHY by RITA DOVE THE TYPICAL HAND by ELENI SIKELIANOS THE CARPENTER by PRIMUS ST. JOHN |
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