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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Egg" is a poem by Gerald Stern that was first published in his collection "This Time: New and Selected Poems" in 1998. Explanation: The poem is about the speaker's experience of observing a robin's egg on the ground. The speaker first notices the egg and remarks on its fragility, as well as the fact that it is the color of a robin's breast. The speaker then goes on to imagine the life that was contained within the egg, imagining the hatching and eventual flight of the bird that would have emerged. The poem ends with the speaker mourning the loss of this potential life and feeling a sense of connection to the natural world. Poetic Elements:
Conclusion: Overall, "Egg" is a poignant and contemplative poem that explores themes of fragility, potential, and connection. The poem's use of sensory imagery and metaphor creates a vivid and memorable portrait of the egg and its symbolic significance. Poem Snippet:
"And what could be more ridiculous than the whole life of a bird flashing by in a second a blue streak across the sky?"
Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO EVENING by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) BLUE-BUTTERFLY DAY by ROBERT FROST THE VICTOR AT ANTIETAM [SEPTEMBER 17, 1862] by HERMAN MELVILLE ROCK OF AGES' by EDWARD H. RICE WELCOME GUEST by JEAN D. ARMSTRONG TO SWEET MEAT, SOUR SAUCE; AN IMITATION OF THEOCRITUS OR ANACREON by PHILIP AYRES |
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