Easter
A robin stood by my porch
and
side-eyed
raised
up
a
worm
A literal interpretation can be noted; simply a bird that is
hungry for a worm is being observed by the speaker. But in Lorine Niedecker’s
Granite Pail it isn’t always as obvious as to what she sees, hears, observes,
and truly means.
Emilie Lindemann always speaks about the importance of
poetry and that there is not one definite interpretation that can be extracted.
Instead of having us discuss to discover what Niedecker means, she has us share
ideas as to what we think Niedecker (or the speaker) means.
To be quite honest, I usually have no idea what to interpret
from Lorine’s poetry. My Life By Water is a great example of where my confusion
comes from.
“first frog or board” “Muskrats gnawing doors” “to wild
green arts and letters” “thru birdstart wingdrip weed-drift”
These few phrases pulled from Niedecker’s poem, mean
absolute madness to me, the reader. What does the speaker see? Muskrats, whom
gnaw upon doors?
Maybe it’s because I’m not from Black Hawk Island and I don’t
observe the natural habit around there daily, but I have not heard of muskrats
gnawing on doors. And if it’s not in a literal sense, then what could possibly
be interpreted? Also looking at the phrase “thru birdstart wingdrp weed-drift.
This stanza basically sounds like Lorine made up some new words, and added it
to her poem.
The plus side to her confusing ways and vocabulary is it can
leave room for a wide variety of interpretations; for me that is very good, in
this case.
Breaking this down My Life By Water, stanza by stanza:
My life
by water-
Hear
I can see that the speaker lives by water. This is a pretty
easy interpretation and very literal in meaning. But a cliffhanger is left with
“Hear.” Which leads to me question why is it capitalized? For importance, or is
it a new thought. But if so, then why not add it in the next stanza.
spring's
first frog
or board
It seems like the seasons have just changed, the spring
animals (a frog) are coming out and venturing into nature. But what is this
board the speaker notes?
out on the cold
ground
giving
I think the last stanza and this one are related. “The first
frog of the season appears, or wait is that a board on the cold ground,” is
what I hear the speaker’s thoughts as.
Muskrats
gnawing
doors
The previous stanza and this one make no sense, and have no
relation (in my opinion.) The board on the cold ground, giving, giving what?
Does the cold ground make muskrats gnaw on doors? I think maybe; maybe the
animals comes out from hibernation and during exploration it only leads to
bone-chilling weather and now the muskrat is gnawing on the speaker’s door,
looking for a way into warmth.
to wild green
arts and letters
Rabbits
The first thing I notice is the capitalized word Rabbits.
What might be the importance? It could be that Lorine is emphases the animals,
but frog wasn’t capitalized. So I’m puzzled once again. Next the wild green…arts
and letters? This is puzzling as well. I know that when spring rolls around beautiful
greens appear and nature is full of beautiful colors- in contrast to the bland
white from winter. Quite possibly the speaker sees the leafy green scenery in
beautiful shapes (arts and letters.)
raided
my lettuce
One boat
(Again questioning the importance of One boat.) I picture
rabbits savaging on some lettuce thrown away in the garbage of the speakers.
two-
pointed toward
my shore
The previous stanza and this one must tie together. She (the
speaker) sees, in the distance, a boat and then realizes there must be two
boats that are headed in the direction of her shore line.
thru birdstart
wingdrip
weed-drift
I imagined birds shuttering from around the boat (from the
previous stanza,) once it starts up its engine, and they soar across the pond;
dipping their wings in the water and above the weeds that surround the body of
water.
of the soft
and serious-
Water
Now that the poem is done I gather my thoughts and interpretations
of the poem- and I come up empty with a fulfilled meaning for the poem. I’m
still left with questions. Why were certain words capitalized? Why does
Niedecker use the line breaks that she does? One thing answered, though, is I
understand and can visualize what the speaker sees. I have somewhat of an
insight.
The first frog comes out from winter hibernation, and
muskrats are searching for a warm place. Rabbits are scavenging for food. On
the other side of the water are boats, which startle up the birds.
That all is visualized, but why does Lorine Niedecker use
the writing strategy that she does?
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