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Virginal Journey
| Critical Analysis #1 |
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Virginal Journey |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563
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he traveled a vast expanse of white waves, surrounded by sterility, he, the sole living spark, till he came upon it, an island of life. huddled firs, bowing, laden with gently mounded layers of suddenly discernible, fragile crystalline flakes. the deciduous stood, barked and bare, branches bundled close, forks filled to overflowing with now sparkling crusts. winds gusted, spraying white, playing sprinklings in subtle rushes, then all settled to silence once again. and he wondered how a bit of life could add such allure, such enchantment, to what he had felt was but so very cold and barren. Kris All change in history, all advance, comes from the nonconformist. If there had been no troublemakers, no dissenters, we would still be living in caves |
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| © Copyright 2001 warmhrt - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Krawdad Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597 |
My, my, every word can be so crucial! I read this at least four times, somewhat puzzled, before I realized that the word "waves" put me on some sort of "salton sea", in a sci-fi kind of place. Nor did I tumble to "so very cold" as being literal and not figurative. Nice job of faking me out, or faking myself out, I guess. It does give one strange ideas to work on. Nice treatment of the solitude of the winter landscape. |
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Lerk Junior Member
since 2000-11-17
Posts 49Dayton, OH USA |
ok, I reread this a couple of times, and first had to say that I enjoyed it, very powerful and economical poem. I have to say that I still dont know who "he" is, as a tiny spark of life.....no reflection on you, it's my miniscule brain at work here. I thought initially that it might be the sunlight glinting off the ice-laden trees, but now I'm not sure. |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
Krawdad, Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to reply. I sincerely appreciate it, and you are right...this is a description of a winter lanscape, but there are layers in the snow. Lerk, As we all know, the reader's perceptions are always right, though they may differ from the writer's intentions. "He" could be anyone, the "sole living spark", until he reaches the "bit of life" that created such beauty in a desert of frozen white. That is the island...the trees...the only other living things in the scene. Hope that helped. As always...thanks for reading and commenting. Every comment helps me learn something. Kris< !signature--> All change in history, all advance, comes from the nonconformist. If there had been no troublemakers, no dissenters, we would still be living in caves [This message has been edited by warmhrt (edited 01-04-2001).] |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
Hi Kris, Sorry to be so late but I guess I am getting too slow, in more ways than one  I think I was mostly bothered earlier by the last line. It just seemed opposed to the poem. But as I just read again, I was suddenly enlightened, you know, the proverbial flash bulb and all. I see the last line now to indicate that "he" was also enlightened, DUH. Brilliantly done, my lady.I have to confess that I normally hate cold weather but the scene here was nice. That may be because I didn't have to get the crap on me to see it though  Pete |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
Pete, I hate cold weather with a passion(is that possible?), but a winter scene that I viewed from within a very warm room with a roaring fire inspired this poem. So I never had to get the crap on me either! Thans for reading, and, of course, for your kind comments, Kris All change in history, all advance, comes from the nonconformist. If there had been no troublemakers, no dissenters, we would still be living in caves |
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Pearls_Of_Wisdom Member
since 2000-09-02
Posts 175 |
Interesting, vivid poem. I liked the contrast/juxtaposition in it, too. I thought it was neat that the spark (heat, life) had to to travel through the winter landscape (cold, lack of life) to find other "sparks" or forms of life. All of this is only my interpretation, of course, but it reminded me of life, of everyone's quest through life to find kindred spirits to whom we feel connected and with whom we share a special bond. It also had a kind of mystical, prophetic tone to it. Does fate figure into why or how the spark is drawn to the trees? I admit the title threw me off for a while. Maybe if it's about growth, do you mean virginal as in being innocent? Is any of this close to the meaning you intended? =) Anyway, I liked that it was so open-ended and could be seen in many different ways. I read it a few times. The first time I was just captured by the language and sort of mystified about the underlying meaning, but even then it resonated with me. That's what I love about good poetry, that it can create that feeling that you've been touched by it in some way, even if you can't really put it into words. Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ashley |
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Pearls_Of_Wisdom Member
since 2000-09-02
Posts 175 |
Interesting, vivid poem. I liked the contrast/juxtaposition in it, too. I thought it was neat that the spark (heat, life) had to to travel through the winter landscape (cold, lack of life) to find other "sparks" or forms of life. All of this is only my interpretation, of course, but it reminded me of life, of everyone's quest through life to find kindred spirits to whom we feel connected and with whom we share a special bond. It also had a kind of mystical, prophetic tone to it. Does fate figure into why or how the spark is drawn to the trees? I admit the title threw me off for a while. Maybe if it's about growth, do you mean virginal as in being innocent? Is any of this close to the meaning you intended? =) Anyway, I liked that it was so open-ended and could be seen in many different ways. I read it a few times. The first time I was just captured by the language and sort of mystified about the underlying meaning, but even then it resonated with me. That's what I love about good poetry, that it can create that feeling that you've been touched by it in some way, even if you can't really put it into words. Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ashley |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
Ashley, You've come pretty close to the meaning I intended, and the "virginal" comes from this being his "first" realization of life connections. Before this, he was "innocent" or "ignorant", depending on the way one views it. I appreciate your kind comments, and look forward to seeing some of your work. Kris All change in history, all advance, comes from the nonconformist. If there had been no troublemakers, no dissenters, we would still be living in caves |
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