Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Daystar" is a poem by Rita Dove, an American poet and author. It was first published in her 1986 collection "Thomas and Beulah," which won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1987. The poem deals with the daily life and struggles of a mother and wife, and their yearning for freedom and self-expression.

Explanation:

The poem "Daystar" is a brief but powerful account of the monotonous and tedious life of a mother and wife. The poem begins by describing the mother as "a woman who loves." The mother's love is expressed in her daily chores, which involve taking care of her children and husband, cooking, and cleaning. The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the mother's routine, such as "the iron glides easy on glossy shirts" and "the sweet potatoes bubbling in the pot."

However, the mother is also shown to be exhausted and trapped in her daily routine, with no time or space for herself. The poet uses the image of the sun to represent the mother's desire for freedom and self-expression. The sun becomes a symbol of hope and escape from the mother's mundane life, as she imagines herself "floating across the sky in sheets / tied to the corners of the sun's handkerchief."

The poem then shifts to the mother's desire to write poetry, a form of self-expression that she has been denied due to her responsibilities as a wife and mother. The mother's yearning to write becomes a metaphor for her desire for freedom and self-discovery. However, the mother's desire is unfulfilled, as she is unable to find the time or space to write. The poem ends on a somber note, with the mother returning to her daily chores and the image of the sun fading away.

Poetic Elements:

• Structure: The poem consists of five stanzas of varying lengths, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The stanzas are separated by a blank line, emphasizing the shift in focus and tone.
• Tone: The tone of the poem is somber and introspective, with a sense of resignation and longing. The use of imagery and metaphor adds to the poem's emotional weight.
• Imagery: The use of imagery in the poem is rich and vivid, with detailed descriptions of the mother's daily routine and her imagined escape into the sky. The sun becomes a powerful symbol of hope and freedom, while the mother's desire to write poetry becomes a metaphor for her desire for self-expression and discovery.
• Metaphor: The poem employs the metaphor of the sun to represent the mother's desire for freedom and self-expression, while her desire to write becomes a metaphor for her yearning for self-discovery.

Conclusion:

"Daystar" is a poignant and emotionally charged poem that captures the struggles and yearnings of a mother and wife in a patriarchal society. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Rita Dove explores the daily routine of the mother and her desire for freedom and self-expression. The poem is a powerful commentary on the challenges and limitations faced by women, and the universal longing for self-discovery and fulfillment.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...