From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Explanation (poem)
Poem by Wallace Stevens
Poem by Wallace Stevens
"Explanation" is a poem from Wallace Stevens's first book of poetry, Harmonium (1923). It was first published in 1917, so it is in the public domain.
Ach, Mutter, This old, black dress, I have been embroidering French flowers on it.
Not by way of romance, Here is nothing of the ideal, Nein, Nein.
It would have been different, Liebchen, If I had imagined myself, In an orange gown, Drifting through space, Like a figure on the church-wall.
Interpretation
Robert Buttel has indicated this poem may be an explanation of the difference between conventional decoration and artistic imagination, the latter represented, as Buttel proposes, by an allusion to Chagall and the otherworldly charm (a figure drifting through space) of his paintings.
Notes
References
- Buttel, Robert. Wallace Stevens: The Making of Harmonium. 1967: Princeton University Press.
References
- (2010-10-13 }} and the Poetry web site.{{cite web). "Poetry".
- Buttel, p. 162
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Explanation (poem) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report