Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Carlos Williams's "Appeal" is a poignant expression of desperation and resilience, blending vivid imagery and raw emotion to convey the speaker's cry for aid in the face of abandonment and danger. The poem revolves around an intense invocation of the "crimson salamander," a mythical symbol of fire, as a source of protection and power. Williams's concise and evocative language captures the tension between vulnerability and strength, offering a glimpse into the speaker's inner turmoil and defiance.

The poem opens with a direct and impassioned address to the "crimson salamander," immediately establishing the urgency of the speaker's plea. The salamander, traditionally associated with fire and its transformative power, becomes a focal point for the speaker's hope. By addressing this mythical creature, the speaker evokes a sense of reverence and desperation, as though seeking divine intervention in a moment of crisis. The repeated call, "hear me once more," suggests a history of reliance on this symbol, indicating that the speaker has faced similar trials before.

Williams situates the speaker in a vividly described setting: "I lay among the half-burned sticks / at the edge of the fire." This imagery evokes a sense of desolation, as the speaker is cast aside, left among remnants of destruction. The "half-burned sticks" symbolize incompleteness and abandonment, emphasizing the speaker's precarious position on the fringes of safety. The mention of "the fiend" and "the cold tips of fingers" introduces an ominous, almost predatory presence, heightening the sense of immediate danger.

The plea for "one little flame" serves as the emotional and thematic heart of the poem. This modest request underscores the speaker's dire situation while also highlighting their resilience. Rather than asking for total salvation, the speaker seeks a tool—a small flame—to protect and empower themselves. This request reflects a desire for agency, a means to confront the challenges posed by "him that flung me here." The identity of this figure remains ambiguous, adding a layer of universality to the poem; the antagonist could represent any force of betrayal, oppression, or injustice.

Structurally, the poem's brevity and free verse form mirror the urgency of the speaker's appeal. The irregular line lengths and enjambment create a sense of breathlessness, as though the speaker is struggling to articulate their plea amidst their peril. The repetition of "one" in the lines "Give me one little flame, / one!" emphasizes the simplicity and specificity of the speaker's need, reinforcing the intensity of their desire.

The closing lines, "This is my song," serve as a powerful declaration. By framing their plea as a "song," the speaker imbues it with a sense of permanence and artistic expression. Despite their dire circumstances, the act of articulating their struggle becomes an assertion of their humanity and creativity. The phrase also resonates with a broader poetic tradition, suggesting that the speaker's personal cry for help transcends their individual plight, echoing the universal human yearning for protection and justice.

In "Appeal," Williams masterfully combines myth, vivid imagery, and emotional depth to craft a poem that speaks to both personal and collective experiences of vulnerability and resilience. The crimson salamander, as a symbol of fire and renewal, embodies the speaker's hope and determination to overcome their plight. At the same time, the poem's raw and direct language ensures that the speaker's voice remains immediate and relatable, grounding the mythical elements in a visceral reality. Through this interplay of myth and emotion, "Appeal" captures the enduring human struggle for survival and the transformative power of hope and creativity.

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