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Poet: Elizabeth Bishop
Poem: Sonnet (1928)
Year: Published/Written in 1928
Comment 6 of 6, added on March 31st, 2007 at 6:57 PM.
This poem has many meanings, the most striking being that the speaker is indirectly talking about wanting sex. look at the words "flow, feeling finer tips, liquid slow, swaying, quivering limbs, flushed, rest , quiet breath, heart that sinks, stillness, sleep"
DB from United States
Comment 5 of 6, added on April 27th, 2006 at 7:56 PM.
First of all, this isn't Sonnet (1928). It's I Am in Need of Music.
Second, the meaning of the poem could also be seen as a longing for acceptance and love in her life. Since she had no parents when she was young, the poem tells of a wish; a life that will make sense. She speaks of death as well, which could be connected to the fact that her father died when she was one. There are many words in this poem that have different connotation that what you may see only on first glance. In line 11, the phrase "fading colors deep" could mean that she has no family in her life, and all that she's suffering from depression. Her life is fading away. The constant use of "sleep" is also connected with death, or loneliness.
The important thing to analyzing poems it too look deeper than whats written. Poets sometimes put hidden meanings in; telling of a personal experiance or of a hidden desire. In this poem, Elizabeth Bishop is telling of a secret desire to find acceptance and family.
Notice that nothing about love or falling in love is mentioned in this poem. Elizabeth was indeed a lesbian, thus the idea and focal point of love is left out of most, if not all, of her poems.
Katherine from United States
Comment 4 of 6, added on April 27th, 2006 at 7:56 PM.
First of all, this isn't Sonnet (1928). It's I Am in Need of Music.
Second, the meaning of the poem could also be seen as a longing for acceptance and love in her life. Since she had no parents when she was young, the poem tells of a wish; a life that will make sense. She speaks of death as well, which could be connected to the fact that her father died when she was one. There are many words in this poem that have different connotation that what you may see only on first glance. In line 11, the phrase "fading colors deep" could mean that she has no family in her life, and all that she's suffering from depression. Her life is fading away. The constant use of "sleep" is also connected with death, or loneliness.
The important thing to analyzing poems it too look deeper than whats written. Poets sometimes put hidden meanings in; telling of a personal experiance or of a hidden desire. In this poem, Elizabeth Bishop is telling of a secret desire to find acceptance and family.
Notice that nothing about love or falling in love is mentioned in this poem. Elizabeth was indeed a lesbian, thus the idea and focal point of love is left out of most, if not all, of her poems.
Katherine from United States
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This poem has many meanings, the most striking being that the speaker is indirectly talking about wanting sex. look at the words "flow, feeling finer tips, liquid slow, swaying, quivering limbs, flushed, rest , quiet breath, heart that sinks, stillness, sleep"
DB from United States