The poem
There is this cave In the air behind my body That nobodyt is going to touch: A cloister, a silence Closing around a blossom of fire. When I stand upright in the wind, My bones turn to dark emeralds.
The Jewel
Keep reading
Discover more of James Wright’s poetry.
Readers
Reader discussion 2 comments
- Readers
- 2
- Stanzas quoted
- 1of 1
- Most quoted
- “There is this cave”1 reader
- Longest reading
- Catherine47 words
I think that the Cave represents where his "Shadows" stay. No one will touch it because no one except him can "see" it. The silence(his father's shadows) are taking over his soul and are turning him into something that has to do with the meaning of emaralds.
I have always seen this poem as a descriptive of his muse-- his essence-- as a poet. This is his, and his alone. As poets, we are unique, empathic and magical.When we send our pure expression out to the universe---our bones turn to dark emeralds. We become.