Poet tree

This column by Tom Radzienda, an instructor in poetry and culture at Srinakharinwirot University, aims to encourage your interest and develop your skill in creating poetry. Poetry is a combination of visualisation, observation, imagination and creative use of language. Discover your poetic side, too!

April 22, 2003

The blessing of poetry

The simplest poems can often be the most beautiful, although the simplicity of a poem can be deceiving. Upon first reading James Wright’s A Blessing, it might seem to be no more than a simple photograph of a rural scene. Yet, within this scene, a deeper insight is revealed. Within this scene is the blessing of poetry.

A blessing
1   Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
2   Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
3   And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
4   Darken with kindness.
5   They have come gladly out of the willows
6   To welcome my friend and me.
7   We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
8   Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
9   They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
10 That we have come.
11 They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
12 There is no loneliness like theirs.
13 At home once more,
14 They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
15 I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
16 For she has walked over to me
17 And nuzzled my left hand.
18 She is black and white,
19 Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
20 And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
21 That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
22 Suddenly I realise
23 That if I stepped out of my body I would break
24 Into blossom.

Setting the scene

The poem begins with very specific details of location. The first line hardly sounds poetic, but it assures us that the observation is authentic. The highway gives a clue that the poet has been driving for a long time across the countryside. The twilight (line 2) sets the whole tone of the poem, casting a soft and gentle mood on the images, feelings and insights of the poem.

The first thing the poet observes about the ponies is their eyes (lines 3 and 4). This observation brings us closer to the ponies and helps us sense them personally. Recall the look in the eyes of a pony that you have seen. See the darkness, and feel the kindness that Wright observes. The ponies gladly emerge from the willows (line 5) to greet their visitors. Nature welcomes the two people in a peaceful way. Feel the gentle light on your face and the soft grass beneath your feet as you approach the pasture.
Into the pasture

Stepping over the barbed wire (line 7) brings the reader closer to the ponies. The barbed wire, sharp and dangerous, is symbolic of the seperation between humans and nature. In your imagination, take a moment to sense cold, rusty barbed wire in your hand. Barbed wire inspires fear, knowing that you will be badly cut if your hand or leg slips. The fear passes as soon as you feel yourself safely into the pasture. Close your eyes for several moments to stimulate your imagination.

The tense rippling of the ponies (line 9) is a specific detail that reveals the closeness of the poet. Feel the shivering sensation as if you are truly there in the pasture. The poet personifies the ponies by describing their happiness. Are the ponies truly happy, or is the happiness a projection from the poet’s own feelings? Consider both possibilities before continuing.

The ponies shyly bow to the two visitors like wet swans (line 11). This further personifies the human characteristics of the ponies, while at the same time using a simile to compare them to graceful swans. There is some ironic contrast in that the ponies love each other, yet retain some special loneliness (11 and 12). Is this loneliness a positive or negative feeling? They seem peaceful, loving, and kind, so we probably sense a positive type of loneliness. Consider your own feelings of lonliness for several moments. Bring forth your own sense of loneliness to warm your heart to the pony’s feelings. Relive your own feelings as you read the poem.
Touch

The ponies are comfortable with the visitors and continue eating the grass (line 14). The poet hints at his deeper feelings when he refers to the "slenderer" pony (15) that he would like to hold. The pony walks over to him and nuzzles his hand (17), demonstrating their closeness. Imagine the wetness on his hand as the horse nibbles and nuzzles. It’s an honour to him that the horse trusts him so much. This is another example of nature’s welcoming hand.

The pony becomes increasingly genuine as the description becomes more specific and intimate. "Her mane falls wild" (line 19) implies the pony’s natural, carefree beauty that attracts the man. The light breeze (20) inspires him further to reach out and gently touch her long ear. He uses simile to compare the softness of the skin to a girl’s wrist (21). This simile is more than just a comparison of softness. It pulls the reader’s attention from the pony to a girl, thus, shifting attention from nature to romance. The choice of simile suggests a deeper emotion in the man’s heart.
The insight

Throughout the poem, the man is drawn closer and closer to the pony, and drawn deeper into the natural experience. He begins to identify himself as part of nature, rather than separate from it. By stepping out of his body (line 23) he shows that he has transcended logical reasoning. He seems to be blessed by a metaphysical experience.

The blossom in the final line suggests that the man has discovered his true essence and his real nature. It’s like he has looked in the mirror for the first time and truly discovered who and what he is. In this sense, the pony has guided him to self-realisation.
Visualisation

To achieve the same "blessing" as James Wright, read the whole poem several times again. Once you know the poem quite well, close your eyes and slowly, step-by-step, visualise each detail of the poem. Use your full imagination to feel the light breeze, hear the munching of the grass, feel the pony licking your hand, all under the soft twilight. Transport yourself into the poem, and transform yourself into the flower that blossoms. The blessing will come when you achieve insight into the poem.

Tom Radzienda is an instructor in poetry and culture at Srinakharinwirot University. Visit his poetry column at www.bangkokpost.com/poetry

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