I placed a jar in Tennessee, And round it was, upon a hill. It made the slovenly wilderness Surround that hill. The wilderness rose up to it, And sprawled around, no longer wild.
It's so interesting though because I don't see a pride in it. The moments of discord in the meter make me feel like there is discord in the thought as well. As if the subconscious mind is breaking through with a note on the absurdity of it all.
Mike — so fun to read your analysis after talking about it in that class. Always love your comments in class but great to read through with full flavor after!
Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed this! I was so excited when Ellie chose this piece and then equally frustrated when my mic wouldn't work. I knew I needed to get to this one eventually on here.
Terrance Hayes in “Watch Your Language” has a lot to say about Stevens. Like everything Hayes writes, it is well worth reading.
Snow For Wallace Stevens is also such an excellent response by Hayes. I regularly think some version of "Thus, I have a capacity for love without
forgiveness. This song is for my foe" to myself as I'm writing about something difficult.
We see this in the same light... a white man marking his territory, declaring dominion.
It's so interesting though because I don't see a pride in it. The moments of discord in the meter make me feel like there is discord in the thought as well. As if the subconscious mind is breaking through with a note on the absurdity of it all.
Mike — so fun to read your analysis after talking about it in that class. Always love your comments in class but great to read through with full flavor after!
Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed this! I was so excited when Ellie chose this piece and then equally frustrated when my mic wouldn't work. I knew I needed to get to this one eventually on here.