Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Messenger" is a poem by Jean Valentine, an American poet born in 1934 who is known for her lyricism and exploration of themes such as love, death, and spirituality.

Explanation:

"Messenger" is a poem that explores the theme of communication and the ways in which language can connect or divide people. The speaker reflects on a dream in which a messenger appears to her and tells her something in a language she cannot understand. The poem was composed in 1987.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Theme: Communication, language, and spirituality
• Imagery: Dreams, messengers, and light
• Tone: Mysterious, contemplative
• Sound: Repetition of phrases ("the messenger said"), alliteration ("glass globe"), and assonance ("light" and "bright")
• Language: Simple and direct, with occasional use of elevated vocabulary
• Figurative language: Metaphor ("a glass globe"), simile ("like the flicker of wings"), and personification ("the messenger said")
• Structure: The poem is composed of two stanzas with varying line lengths. It is written in free verse, which allows the speaker to move between different observations and emotions without being constrained by a strict form.
• Symbolism: The messenger in the poem is a symbol of the divine or spiritual realm, and the language he speaks represents the mysteries of the universe that cannot be fully understood by human beings.
• Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of wonder and awe at the mysteries of the universe and the ways in which language and communication can connect or separate people.

Conclusion:

"Messenger" is a beautiful and mysterious poem that speaks to the power of language and the human desire for connection and understanding. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, the poem encourages readers to contemplate the ways in which language can bring people together or create divisions.

Poem Snippet:

"The messenger said something I couldn't understand,

in a language like light or like the flicker of wings.

In a language made of glass, moving among us

like light, like bright water."