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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem opens with the tension between the mundane act of leaving for an errand and the charged, almost mythical space where the other man waits. This tension underscores the duality of the speaker's life, caught between the responsibilities and routines of domestic life and the allure of something—or someone—else that promises, or threatens, to disrupt that stability. Buck's imagery is rich and layered, using the "plague of white moths" as a metaphor for infestation or disturbance, not just in the mini-mart but in the speaker's life. The comparison of the speaker to the grotesque figures in her husband's sketches suggests a sense of distortion or dissatisfaction with oneself, a theme that runs through the poem as the speaker navigates the complexities of her desires and loyalties. The poem then shifts to explore the concept of beauty, both lost and found. Despite the omnipresence of beauty, gifting the speaker with moments of grace, there's a sense of something essential missing or unattainable, highlighted by the image of the child's silken hair at night—a moment of purity and connection that stands in contrast to the speaker's inner turmoil. The closing lines of the poem delve into the transformative power of twilight, where "things hold their shapes" in the dimming light, suggesting a moment of clarity or revelation. The human face emerges as a symbol of "righteousness," a term loaded with moral and ethical connotations, suggesting that in the end, it is the human connection, the touch, and the intimacy of familiar faces, that anchor the speaker amidst the tumult of desire and duty. "Errand" is a contemplative piece that weaves together the ordinary and the profound, questioning the choices we make and the lives we lead in pursuit of beauty, fulfillment, and righteousness. Buck masterfully captures the intricate dance of longing and belonging, leaving the reader with a sense of the bittersweet complexities of the human heart.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 1. AT TEA by THOMAS HARDY ON SOME LINES OF LOPE DE VEGA by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) FAREWELL, UNKIST by THOMAS WYATT THE HYMNARY: 403. MARTYRS by ADAM OF SAINT VICTOR THE SUPPLIANTS: PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 12. TO SIR FRANCIS HENRY DRAKE, BARONET by MARK AKENSIDE |
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