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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem begins with the hornets "Upside-down on their mill-stone," engaged in the laborious task of building their home. This initial image sets the tone for the poem, highlighting the persistence and industrious nature of these creatures. Belitt uses the construction of the nest to draw parallels between the hornets' work and human endeavors, suggesting a universal impulse towards creation and perseverance. Belitt's language is both precise and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the hornets' world. The nest is described as "a wafer of smashed candelabrum," suggesting both fragility and intricacy in its construction. This comparison elevates the hornets' labor to an art form, likening their nest to a delicate and valuable object. The poem also delves into the instinctual knowledge that drives the hornets, "Leant to invisible head-bands, hods / Of invisible chalk and saliva." This passage emphasizes the mysterious and innate skills that guide these creatures in their task. There is a sense of wonder at the natural world's complexity and the unspoken knowledge that governs it. As the poem progresses, Belitt contrasts the hornets with other insects, such as bees and wasps, noting their different methods of building and their unique contributions to the ecosystem. This comparison highlights the diversity of nature and the specialized roles that different species play within it. Ultimately, "Hornet's House" is a meditation on the act of creation, whether it be the construction of a nest or the crafting of a poem. Belitt draws a parallel between the hornets' work and his own as a poet, suggesting that both are driven by an insatiable need to create, to leave something lasting behind. The poem ends on a note of triumph, with the nest (and by extension, the poem itself) emerging as a testament to the hornets' (and the poet's) labor, ingenuity, and existence. Through "Hornet's House," Belitt offers a profound reflection on the natural world, the drive to create, and the beauty that arises from labor and instinct. The poem invites readers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all living things and the enduring impact of their endeavors POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=29164
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JIM, WHO RAN AWAY FROM HIS NURSE, AND WAS EATEN BY A LION by HILAIRE BELLOC 1914: 3. THE DEAD by RUPERT BROOKE THE FOUNTAIN by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL SONNET: 9 by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY PHILOMELA by JOHN CROWE RANSOM RETURNED FROM THE WAR by HENRY ABBEY THESEUS, SELECTION by BACCHYLIDES |
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