Blog#1
The sparrow by Paul Dunbar
Blog #1
This poem is very relatable to many in which it draws a clear picture of our everyday lives. The bird on the windowsill can represent a missed opportunity to get away from life's demands for a moment and appreciate what is presented to us like nature, our families, food, and the many other good things in life. Not noticing the beauty that came directly to our windows we continue to dismiss them. I found this poem to be remarkably interesting because Focusing on the third stanza of the poem, it brings to my attention how much we need to take a moment to look up at the things that we normally take for granted. The idea is not limited to the bird but also pertains to flowers that we pass by daily, the way that the sun reflects the ocean, the wind on your skin etc. Of course, we cannot escape the hustle and bustle of life's anxieties but from time to time we need to take our minds off the things that bring us stress and let in the things that bring us happiness and serenity.
As humans we often view the little things in life as trivial, not appreciating how much those little things play a significant role in our happiness. Reflecting on those things can in turn make life a little more meaningful. From my own experience, whenever I become overwhelmed, my go to place, is the boardwalk. Whenever I do this, I mentally let go of my stress. I do not just simply breathe or take short breaths like I normally do but I take deep breaths, deeply inhaling positivity and what I desire to accomplish and exhaling slowly, letting go of the things that bring me discomfort, anxiety, or grief. Doing this simply helps me to appreciate just being alive. Many people do not think too much about that because we wake up every day and go about our daily lives and do the same things the next day. However, what we often fail to remember is that tomorrow is not promised to anyone in which Dunbar briefly indicated at the end of the poem. The importance is to find beauty in every little thing, every moment and every second because we do not realize how important these very things are until they are no longer there.
yes on the right track regarding the significance of the image; if writing an essay about the poem you'd want to bear down on some of the details and contrasting images, such as the brown plumage, the deadened heart; chirping v rushing; also the metaphor comparing life to a windowsill offers some opportunities for interpretation (after all, a window sill is fairly narrow; also the window is apparently closed here, details suggest); also the pane being tapped on, as well as the tapping --what is the significance of these details? There are many more of course...and why a sparrow, rather than some rarer bird...)?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I am thinking about this in the correct way but the window can represent shutting out or isolation between ourselves and the outside world. The tapping on the windowpane might symbolize reformation in some shape or form.
ReplyDeleteYes, for sure: details may be interpreted in more than one way, so long as they connect with the overall theme. The test would be to place any interpretation of a particular detail in context of other details of the poem. if other details contradict, or do no fit with with the interpretation, it may mean the interpretation is off track, or maybe just not thorough or complete enough-- you may have to open up, expand, reconsider, etc...any overall interpretation should be able to account (had you world enough and time...) for all details...
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