The poem
In a field I am the absence of field. This is always the case. Wherever I am I am what is missing.
When I walk I part the air and always the air moves in to fill the spaces where my body's been.
We all have reasons for moving. I move to keep things whole.
Damn this poem for existing, for giving sad people a touchstone for loneliness and selfishness. Words matter and our thoughts count- this poem is a Holocaust.
The meaning in this poem is the absence of poem. The poem can only exist wholly when there is nothing in it - therefore, if this poem was in a field, the air would be sucked into it.
this is in my english book. its one of my favorites
I feel that the author is describing a time in his life where he had to deal with hardships. He is basically saying don't dwell on things, bc it will just get you no where, and if you want to stay a sane individual than don't. Dwelling just tears the human mind aprt, and distorts it in many ways
This poem is no Holocaust. It is beautifully profound because it is a split between the narrorator having massive importance and being nothing at all. It is such an elusive feeling and to be able to portray it through words is amazing.He views his life as inconsequential, but he is also of the greatest consequence because he does what he does, to keep things whole.
the poet pleads for wholeness and perfection against the usual fragmentation that goes on in life. its such a sad poem and it also has such depth of emotions in it.
It is bizarre to me that people see this as a sad or negative lyric--it is so freshly zen! As fresh now as when I first read it over two decades ago. This poem so serenely expresses the highly integrated role we each play in the environment/on this plane of existence. That we, in fact, HAVE "place," and a place in this place is so comforting to me. Not in the least bit off-putting or sentimentalized or doldrum-inducing; on the contrary! I read this poem to remember that I, too, have a purpose in moving along in this life, and that my passage is not inconsequential. Very IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT in message, I think...
When you are moving and there is no motive, that movement is Divine!
i just wanted to put out there that i absolutely LOVE this poem!!
I think this poem can also be analyzed from eco-perspective. That is to say, the verses refer to the speaker's realization of eco-consciousnesses, and that he's only a minor part of the ecosystem. Therefore, he reveals "we have all reasons for moving" and even "[he] move[s] to keep things whole," that is to maintain the organic balance in the ecosphere.
Philosophy of Life
Every people in this world have reasons for moving ahead, nobody walks aimlessly in his/her life. The speaker also moves ahead in this poem to achieve perfection of the unusual fragmentation of his life.
I chose this poem for my Theatre Arts assignment. It really is a great poem, and I am glad I found it.