The poem
I am in need of music that would flow Over my fretful, feeling finger-tips, Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips, With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow. Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low, Of some song sung to rest the tired dead, A song to fall like water on my head, And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!
There is a magic made by melody: A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep To the subaqueous stillness of the sea, And floats forever in a moon-green pool, Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.
HEY!! hi beth.. this is kinda funny but now i'm going to analyze this poem so WATCH OUT!
In this lovely (notice i used lovely lol) poem, Elizabeth is speaking of her passion for the sound of music (no i am not talking about the song). She talks about how it is washes over her and takes care of her when she's scared.
This is all i could think of so this should get u started tho! hope ya like it!
hi Kiwi...lol ya i totally agree...but is that long enough??? o n ya ur comment waz "lovely"...lol
Hey Friutytuti or however u spell it.. little slow today if ya can't tell.. lol.. this is cool.. it's almost as fun as msn.. (sarcasm voice please lmao) well i need to go.. o ya i don't kno if it's long enough or not.
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…
Read the whole commentFirst 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.
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"
My point of view about this poem
Here in this poem, the poet iust seeks for change and she needs an emotional change in her life. she needs something to let her happy and optimistic. she then talks about the source of creativity which is about the relationships between man and art in general with music.