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Critical Analysis #1
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haze
Senior Member
since 1999-11-03
Posts 528
Bethlehem, PA USA

0 posted 1999-11-08 10:58 PM


Well-wintered hands trace
the wooded shoreline of your back.

I listen to the river chill
and froth in your bitter sleep.
Rapids turn the tidal coarse
of dreams to white water.
I want to seek the sandbar.
Drowning,
I float
face down,
sucking the wet green
through nose and mouth,
too cold to tread,
too weak to swim.


~haze
11/08/99


[This message has been edited by haze (edited 11-08-1999).]

© Copyright 1999 Haze McElhenny - All Rights Reserved
roxane
Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 505
us
1 posted 1999-11-08 11:38 PM


this poem sort of confuses me because i at first think that the drowning is a metaphor- is it? i REALLY liked the first two lines, but unfortunately the rest of the poem doesn't seem to go with it. there is a lot of good imagery in here, but i can't seem to make the connection. it might just be me.
Brad
Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea
2 posted 1999-11-11 05:59 AM


If I understand this, I think this is very well done. You've mixed the images of drowning and seduction (?) quite well. I wouldn't exactly call it an erotic piece though.

Well done,
Brad

Drop the word dream.

Vers Librist
Junior Member
since 1999-11-10
Posts 16

3 posted 1999-11-11 09:50 PM


I really love the vivid imagery you've used here. I'm going to have to read it again a few more times, but I think I really love it as a whole.
jenni
Member
since 1999-09-11
Posts 478
Washington D.C.
4 posted 1999-11-12 04:06 PM


haze--

simply beautiful, i really loved this one. i wouldn't change a thing (except for "coarse" in line 5 to "course").

i don't see this as a seduction poem at all, brad, but just the opposite, as a poem describing the reaction of the speaker to the emotional withdrawal of the speaker's beloved, and a relationship in trouble.

keep them coming haze, very well done.

Local Rebel
Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767
Southern Abstentia
5 posted 1999-12-27 12:19 PM


I have to agree with Jenni here,

frothing in his bitter sleep... tells it all

dreams turned to white water rapids... a painful thing to grow up haze... a painful thing indeed.  But your scars have carved beauty.

Peace

jaxjoy
Member
since 1999-12-14
Posts 112
Texas
6 posted 1999-12-27 08:40 PM


I read this about five times or so.  I am intrigued by the darkness, the desperation.  The only line that sticks out (to me anyway)
is "I want to seek the sandbar"  It doesnt seem to flow like the rest of this piece.  The first line was all I needed to read to know I was going to love this poem.  Great work.

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