LITR 5535: American Romanticism
Student Student Poetry Presentation, fall 2000

Poetry Reader: Gwendolyn Darrell

Poetry Respondent: Lathon Lewis

by James Wright (1922-1980)

"A Blessing" by James Wright appears later in the anthology; however, it still evokes the "Romantic Spirit." This poem, written by the poet on his way to Minnesota, represents the compassion and sensitivity he has for nature, which comes to an abrupt halt. I believe that he is writing about the decay and erosion of the natural landscape and the individual’s relationship with the locale. During this time period poets often wrote about objects and landscapes because it epitomized their feelings about the surroundings.

Objective 2a.

This poem represents the romantic genre of the lyric, which is written in free verse. Prior works made similar use of stanzas, metrics, and narratives. One simile--"...the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear / That is as delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist"(ll.20-21)--appeals to one’s imagination and the emotion of external nature evoking an inward sensation. In addition, the poem makes use of realism and local color. The poem tells about things that are real; for example, Minnesota is real, the ponies are real, the fence is real that encloses the ponies. He sees nature (represented by the ponies) in its beauty; nature is seen in the protection enclosed by the fence suggested by the ponies coming back "At home once more," (l.13). Another example of the romantic genre is suggested by when he writes "Suddenly, I realize/That if I stepped out of my body I would break/Into blossom" (l.22-25). It appears that the ponies are in his imagination but they are real.

He uses metaphoric imagery suggestive of the "Romantic Spirit" as he comes off the highway to stop and participate in the beauty of nature (the ponies). This awe-inspiring view is exalted above the decaying landscape that has been tainted by progress. The animals are "...happ[y],...They love each other. / There is no loneliness..." (ll.9-12) suggests the sublime quality of moral and spiritual loftiness. "At home once more" (l.13) suggests the ponies have been off somewhere and now they are back capturing the serenity of nature in their surroundings.

Question: What are some of the feelings that are evoked when this poem is read?

The poem also represents nostalgia by the reference to "Indian."

Reference to the Indians evokes that sense of "Last of the Mohicians," wilderness, freedom, wildness, and nature. The convergence of nature and female qualities.

"Breaking into a blossom" suggests the sublime quality of escape. It could represent progress, and ending, or death.

Coming from the highway shows containment of the ponies inside the barbed wire fence.

Sexual undercurrent: blossom and "to take her in my arms," suggestive of ecstasy and eroticism.