|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Where We Must Look for Help" by Robert Bly is a poignant and symbolic meditation on the search for peace, stability, and renewal in the midst of turmoil. Drawing from biblical imagery and the natural world, Bly crafts a narrative that reflects on the cyclical nature of life, the enduring quest for a safe haven, and the resilience required to navigate periods of uncertainty and change. The poem begins with the image of a dove in flight, unable to find a resting place above "the shaken seas." This image evokes the story of Noah's Ark from the Bible, where a dove is sent out to find land after the flood but returns when it finds nowhere to land. The reference to the dove and its fruitless search sets the tone for the poem, highlighting themes of displacement and the longing for peace and stability. The next lines, "Beneath Ark eaves / The dove shall magnify the tiger's bed; / Give the dove peace," suggest a yearning for reconciliation and harmony between forces that are typically seen as opposing or incompatible. The dove, a symbol of peace, magnifying the tiger's bed—a place of potential danger or aggression—implies a transformation or softening of the harsher aspects of existence. The plea to "Give the dove peace" underscores the fundamental desire for tranquility and respite in a turbulent world. The poem then shifts to the image of split-tail swallows leaving at dawn and blue swallows returning at dusk. This transition symbolizes the rhythm of nature and the passage of time, with the departure and return of the swallows reflecting the cycle of day and night, beginnings and endings. It suggests a natural order to things, a reassurance of continuity and the promise of renewal. On the third day, the crow takes center stage, marking a departure from the more traditionally peaceful imagery of the dove and swallows. The crow, described as "the spider-colored crow," is tasked with finding "new mud to walk upon." Crows, often associated with cunning and adaptability, here symbolize resilience and the ability to find new ground even in the aftermath of upheaval. The reference to "new mud" evokes the aftermath of the flood, suggesting fertile ground for new beginnings and the potential for growth and regeneration. "Where We Must Look for Help" is a layered exploration of where and how we find guidance and solace in times of distress. Bly uses the natural world and its inhabitants as metaphors for the human condition, emphasizing the importance of hope, the inevitability of change, and the capacity for renewal. Through its biblical allusions and rich natural imagery, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own sources of strength and resilience, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, there are cycles of renewal and opportunities for new beginnings
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRODIGAL SON by ROBERT BLY LOVE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS ON BEING ASKED FOR A WAR POEM by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS RUNNING TO PARADISE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS AN EASTER HYMN by THOMAS BLACKBURN LOVE IN EXILE: L'ENVOI by MATHILDE BLIND TO A SPIRIT (2) by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN KNOWLEDGE by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH OLD PONE by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER A STRICTURE ON BISHOP WARBURTON'S DOCTRINE OF GRACE by JOHN BYROM |
| |