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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The opening lines immediately animate the inanimate, with "files in the filing cabinet" engaging in a cacophony of conversation, a "mumble jumble" that suggests the clutter not only of papers but of ideas, drafts, and memories contained within. This noise contrasts with the silence and order often associated with filed documents, hinting at the complexity and disorder underlying the creative process. The desk, by contrast, is described as "discreet," a sentinel of secrets that holds its silence in the midst of the surrounding commotion. This could symbolize the role of the poet herself—observant, contained, and holding the chaos at bay as she sifts through the noise to find her voice. Rough drafts are personified as living a "roustabout life," evoking images of carefree, disorderly existence. They "tumble from shelves," suggesting the dynamic, often messy process of creation, where ideas are constantly being revisited, revised, and sometimes discarded. This imagery contrasts with the "published and smugly replete" books that no longer "feel the need to compete," reflecting a journey from the tumultuous process of creation to the polished finality of publication. Stationery, too, takes on a life of its own, "sprawling, casual as sunbathers," suggesting a relaxed abundance that belies the intensity of the work produced from it. This image also evokes a sense of the potential inherent in the blank page, awaiting the poet's touch. The final stanza reveals "love letters" hidden in a "locked drawer," suggesting the personal and emotional depths that underpin the poet's work. These letters, kept apart from the other elements of the study, signify the private inspirations and vulnerabilities that drive the creative process, yet are kept separate from the public persona of the poet. "Sappho in Her Study" playfully explores the relationship between the poet and her environment, suggesting that the creative space is alive with the echoes of past works, the potential of future creations, and the deeply personal inspirations that drive the artistic process. Through the personification of the poet's tools and materials, Cherry invites readers to consider the unseen life of the creative process and the intimate connection between the artist and her art. POEM TEXT: https://poets.org/poem/sappho-her-study
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 42. AUGMENTED BY FAVOURABLE BLASTS by PHILIP AYRES PENULTIMATE PURITAN by HELEN L. BARNES PAULO POST ORDINATIONEM by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |
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