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Jun 10, 2019 · Many poets have sung its praises over the centuries, pondering the link between the body and the soul, admiring the beauty of the human form, or reflecting upon the changes that a human body undergoes. Here are ten of the very best poems about the body, and bodies. 1. John Donne, ‘The Ecstasy’.
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Poets often concern themselves with abstract notions such as...
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“A Story about the Body,” which, as a poem, is of course a made object, becomes, by its end, a kind of infinity mirror: those structures made of parallel mirrors which create a series of smaller and smaller reflections that appear to recede into infinite distance.
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‘Saint Francis and the Sow’ by Galway Kinnell describes how self-blessing helps the soul to flourish again and understand its worth. The speakerof this poem refers to the “bud” in the very first line. According to him, it is the source of all things. Some buds may bloom while others do not. No matter whether a bud reaches completion or remains dorm...
Lines 1-11
Galway Kinnell’s poem ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’ begins with reference to “The bud,” which is a symbol of beginning. According to the speaker, it symbolizesall things. It represents each living creature that is stunned before fulfillment. A bud may bloom or not; it is still a beautiful creation of nature. Humans tend to ignore the fact that it has the ability to bloom. If a living being has stopped before its prime, it is possible that it lacks “self-blessing.” So, the speaker tells readers...
Lines 12-23
These lines of ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’ allude to the story of Saint Francis. He is best known for the practice of oneness and all-embracing love. In the story, St. Francis is seen touching the creased forehead of a sow. Then he told her in words that it was beautiful. He touched her body and told her that she had the blessings of earth. Then, the sow started to remember her self-worth. She could feel how beautiful she was. Be it her thick length or muddy about, each part of hers is beauti...
Kinnell’s ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’ is a free-verse poem. There is no regular rhyme scheme or meter. The text consists of a total of 23 lines that are grouped into a single stanza. Kinnell does not divide the poem into specific stanzas. But, readers can find a shift of subject matterin the 12th line. From this line, the speaker describes the stor...
Kinnell makes use of the following literary devices in his poem ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’. 1. Enjambment: It occurs throughout the text. The poet uses this device to connect the lines internally and maintain the flow of the text. For instance, the first four lines are enjambed. 2. Repetition: There is a repetition of the term “flower” and “flower...
The following poems explore the themes that can be found in Galway Kinnell’s poem ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’. 1. ‘Passion’ by Kathleen Raine— This poem is about a speaker who goes through healing from a severe heartbreak. 2. ‘Samurai Song’ by Robert Pinsky— This piece is about cherishing a fearless mind and praising one’s self-worth. 3. ‘The New L...
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The poem’s diction, or choice of words, keeps the “blessings of earth” grounded, quite literally, in the actual details of the sow’s body and her pen. Lines: 19-23
Beyond its literal representation, the body often serves as a powerful metaphor in poetry. Poets skillfully use the body to convey emotions, experiences, and societal issues. It becomes a vehicle for exploring the human condition in all its complexities.
In the first section of the poem, the poet states the similarities between the body and soul, arguing that the body doesn’t corrupt the soul. In the next section, he discusses the various ways which make the body perfect. Further, he defines a “well-made man,” especially in terms of his body.
In ‘The Spirit is too Blunt an Instrument,’ Stevenson explores themes of life, creation, and possibility. By emphasizing the beauty of the human body and the complex, incredible process it requires to create it, the speaker is alluding to life’s possibilities.
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