Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Book of Days 5" by Martha Collins delicately navigates the interplay between perception, memory, and resilience amidst life's changing landscapes. Through evocative imagery and reflective introspection, the poem explores how moments of beauty and complexity can offer solace and provoke thought, even during periods of difficulty.

The poem opens with a contemplation of the sky as seen through a screen, which "grids, grays a little the dappled sky." This initial image, with its filtering of natural beauty through a man-made barrier, sets a tone of mediation between the self and the world, suggesting the ways in which our perceptions are shaped by the interfaces through which we encounter life.

Collins moves from this mediated view of the sky to a more intimate interaction with the world: "The blue places between / the clouds: / to tongue them into meaning / morning light --." The desire "to tongue them into meaning" speaks to a deeply human impulse to interpret and find significance in the natural world, to transform observation into understanding and light into insight.

The narrative then shifts to a memory of "the girl who lives / most well in her own mind," who notices the pigeons on a cornice, including a white one that prompts the speaker to think "Dove." This moment of observation and the association of the pigeon with a dove—a symbol of peace—introduce themes of innocence and purity, as well as the subjective nature of perception and the personal meanings we attach to what we see.

"That was before the troubled time," Collins writes, grounding the poem in a context of adversity, suggesting that the memory exists in contrast to a subsequent period of difficulty. This acknowledgment serves as a pivot in the poem, from the beauty and tranquility of the observed moment to the reality of life's challenges.

"The fire escape is mostly space." This line, with its emphasis on space, both physical and metaphorical, reflects on the gaps and absences that define our environments and experiences. It hints at potential escape or relief from the confines of the troubled time, yet also underscores the isolation or emptiness that can accompany such spaces.

"Things are written under things," suggests layers of meaning and experience that lie beneath the surface, inviting a deeper exploration of the hidden or unspoken aspects of life. This line, with its suggestion of complexity and hidden depths, resonates with the poem's contemplation of perception and memory.

"Life's below, where snow patches grass," captures the resilience and persistence of life, even in the face of adversity. The imagery of snow-patched grass evokes a landscape of contrast and survival, mirroring the poem's exploration of resilience amidst the troubled times.

The final line, "I have held on," is a powerful affirmation of endurance and resilience. It speaks to the speaker's strength in navigating the complexities and challenges of life, maintaining a grip on hope and continuity despite the difficulties faced.

"Book of Days 5" is a reflective and nuanced meditation on the ways in which moments of beauty and memory intersect with the realities of hardship and resilience. Through its layered imagery and introspective tone, Collins invites readers to consider the ways in which we interpret, remember, and persevere through the varied landscapes of our lives.

POEM TEXT: https://capa.conncoll.edu/collins.space.htm#DAYS

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