Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention" is a poem by Yehuda Amichai, first published in 1980. The poem is a reflection on the human experience of love and relationships.

Explanation:

The poem is a meditation on the nature of love and relationships, and the difficulties and challenges that they entail. The speaker reflects on the way that love can both create and destroy, and on the pain and loss that often accompany the end of a relationship. The poem explores the tension between the idealized notion of love and the messy reality of human relationships, and ultimately concludes that despite the pain and sadness that love can bring, it is still worth pursuing.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. It has no consistent rhyme scheme, but uses repetition and enjambment to create a sense of musicality and flow.
• Theme: The human experience of love and relationships, the tension between idealization and reality, the pain and loss that accompany the end of a relationship.
• Imagery: The poem uses vivid and often metaphorical imagery to explore the theme of love and relationships, including "the broken things that nobody wants," "the dust that covers everything," and "the weight of love."
• Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative, with a sense of melancholy and loss.
• Sound: The poem uses repetition and enjambment to create a sense of musicality and flow, and to emphasize the emotional weight of the subject matter.
• Language: The language is poetic and elevated, with occasional use of biblical language.
• Figurative language: The poem uses metaphor and symbolism to explore the theme of love and relationships, such as "the weight of love" as a metaphor for the emotional burden that love can bring.
• Structure: The lack of a consistent rhyme scheme and the use of enjambment create a sense of urgency and immediacy that mirrors the urgency of the poem's message.
• Symbolism: The broken things represent the brokenness that often accompanies the end of a relationship, while the dust represents the fading memory of a past love.
• Emotion: The poem conveys a sense of melancholy and loss, as well as a sense of hope and possibility.

In summary, "A Pity. We Were Such a Good Invention" is a poignant and reflective poem that explores the complexities and challenges of the human experience of love and relationships. The poem's use of vivid and often metaphorical imagery, metaphorical language, and symbolism create a sense of depth and meaning that goes beyond the literal subject matter. The poem invites readers to reflect on the messy reality of human relationships, and to consider the possibility of finding beauty and meaning in spite of the pain and loss that often accompany them. The poem was first published in 1980.