democracy and a discussion on "what is art"
The Swan by Mary Oliver
"Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross
Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings
Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?"
Okay, this gorgeous poem, I feel would be potentially even stronger without the last two lines, because then it forces you to take the next steps yourself. But a friend does not agree. What do YOU think? Democracy in action folks! Let's settle this purely subjective debate by the power of the people!
"Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross
Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings
Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?"
Okay, this gorgeous poem, I feel would be potentially even stronger without the last two lines, because then it forces you to take the next steps yourself. But a friend does not agree. What do YOU think? Democracy in action folks! Let's settle this purely subjective debate by the power of the people!
posted by dm at 11:19 AM
6 Comments:
Its better *with* the last two lines!
Well, I always failed when it came to interpreting poetry or abstract thought in literature in English class, so I will abstain from this vote. Why, you may ask? 2 reasons:
a) because I don't think in the abstract, the last two lines would have never come on my own;
and b) if the two last lines were left out, it would have let us come to our own questionings/conclusions...
I can see both sides of the debate :)
I kinda like the last two lines... XD
*ducks swing*
I think you are right. On the other hand, I'm probably too dense to take the steps like you're suggesting on my own. So it might make it a better poem to remove the lines, but maybe less people would get it. Maybe your informal poll should be: "Is Poetry for the masses or the elite?"
-A
There are so many purposes for art, some are supposed to have ambiguous meanings, but I think it is nice when a poem or a piece of music kind of points you in a direction or drops you a hint. Re the question "Is poetry for the masses of the elite?" A halo has been placed around artists, but I vote for cultural democracy.
keep the last two lines...
*single tear*
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