Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Problem of Describing Trees (1 of 12)

Please read this poem by Robert Hass, first.

Hass' argument in the poem linked above is that language - words, rather - has its limits. There are things that cannot be described using words. There are also things that have been described using words, but those words don't always capture the essence of it. Hass uses trees as an example. The movement of trees is often described as dancing in poetry, but he points out that this word, 'danced,' does not capture that movement. He attempts to use another word before stating his argument. He gives an example- an application, of his argument before the reader realizes that he is making an argument.

The italicized line, "Dance with me, dancer. Oh, I will," can mean 2 things. Rather- I see 2 scenarios of who is speaking and to whom they are speaking. The poet could be reflecting on his experience of the movement of the trees; the trees are asking the poet to dance with them. What makes more sense in analysis of the poem, however, is that the poet is speaking to the reader- telling the reader he will play the game of attempting to describe the trees as long as the reader will participate.

Extra note: words as representations- a la Plato's Allegory of the Cave

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