|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Let It Be Told" by William Everson is a deeply atmospheric poem that captures a moment of revelation or significant telling within a natural and somewhat ominous setting. The poem employs stark, evocative imagery to convey a sense of urgency and profound significance, imbuing the act of telling with a ceremonial gravity. This narrative unfolds against a backdrop of the natural world in turmoil, suggesting that the message to be told is as elemental and powerful as the forces of nature itself. The opening lines set the scene in "the driving dark of some far night," immediately establishing a tone of intensity and mystery. The imagery of pine trees staggering on a ridge and killdeer rising through the broken sky evokes a sense of instability and upheaval in the natural world, reflecting the tumultuous nature of the message that needs to be conveyed. Everson's choice to have the telling occur in "a single breath" torn from the throat and thrown to the wind emphasizes the raw, unfiltered nature of this revelation. This act is not just communication but a release of pent-up energy or truth, flung into the elements to impact the world beyond the speaker. The setting shifts to the "stagnant dusk of this still room," contrasting the vast, wild outdoor scene with the confined, quiet space where witnesses gather. The mention of "plaintive bats talking faintly under the eaves" and the distant crowing of a cock further accentuates the stillness and the anticipation of the moment before the telling. These details create a sense of suspended time, a liminal space where something significant is on the cusp of happening. The poem's strength lies in its ability to convey a profound sense of anticipation and the weight of untold truths through its vivid imagery and tight, focused structure. Everson crafts a scene where the natural world mirrors the emotional landscape of the moment, blending the external and internal into a unified expression of suspense and the need for expression. "Let It Be Told" invites readers to contemplate the moments in life that demand to be acknowledged and shared, no matter how tumultuous or unsettling they may be. It speaks to the human need to voice the truths that define our experiences, connecting us to the larger, more elemental forces that govern our world. Through its haunting imagery and compelling narrative, the poem captures the raw beauty and power of such acts of revelation.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPISTLE TO JOHN LAPRAIK, AN OLD SCOTTISH BARD by ROBERT BURNS AN INSINCERE WISH ADDRESSED TO A BEGGAR by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE EVENING (1) by EMILY DICKINSON THE MEETING OF THE WATERS by THOMAS MOORE CROSSING THE BAR by ALFRED TENNYSON THE PATRIOTIC MERCHANT PRINCE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |
| |