Poetry Analysis

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Constantly risking absurdity

Original Poetry

Translation

Constantly risking absurdity

Always taking the risk of looking silly and dying

and death

whenever he performs

above the heads

of his audience

the poet like a tightrope walker

the poet like an acrobat

climbs on rhymes

climbs on rime

to a high wire he makes himself

to a high wire of his own making

and balancing on the

and balancing on eyebeams

light from eyes

above a sea of faces

paces his way

walks his way

to the other side of day

to the other side of the day

performing entrechats

performing jumps

and sleight-of-foot tricks

and quick foot tricks

and other high theatrics

and all without mistaking

any thing

for what it may not be

For he's the super realist

who must perforce perceive

taut truth

before the taking of each stance or step

in his supposed advance

toward that still higher perch

where Beauty stands and waits

with gravity

to start her death-defying leap

And he

a little charleychaplin man

who may or may not catch

her fair eternal form

spreadeagled in the empty air

of existence

Explanation

In 'Constantly Risking Absurdity,' Lawrence Ferlinghetti likens the poet to an acrobat, emphasizing the inherent risks and challenges of the artistic endeavor. The poet must perform above the audience, metaphorically balancing on a high wire made of his own creation, which represents the delicate and precarious nature of crafting poetry. The 'eyebeams' and 'sea of faces' suggest the scrutiny and judgment from the audience, while the 'entrechats' and 'sleight-of-foot tricks' symbolize the poet's skill and creativity. The poem captures the tension between artistic ambition and the fear of failure, illustrating how poets, like acrobats, must navigate the fine line between success and absurdity. Ferlinghetti's use of vivid imagery and metaphor highlights the courage required to pursue art, as well as the beauty and danger inherent in the creative process.

Word Dictionary6

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
absurdity	ridiculousness	the quality of being foolish or unreasonable	ab-sur-di-ty
acrobat	performer	a person who performs gymnastics or stunts	a-cro-bat
rime	rhyme	a word that has the same ending sound as another	rahy-m
eyebeams	gazes	the light or focus from someone's eyes	eye-beams
entrechats	jumps	a ballet jump where the dancer crosses their legs in the air	ahn-truh-shah
sleight-of-foot	quick footwork	deceptive or skillful movements with the feet	slite-of-foot

Poet & Context

PoetLawrence Ferlinghetti

Era20th Century, Beat Generation

Lawrence Monsanto Ferlinghetti was an American poet, painter, and social activist. He co-founded City Lights Booksellers & Publishers and was best known for his poetry collection 'A Coney Island of the Mind'. His work often explored themes of social justice and the human condition.

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When1958

WhyThe poem reflects the poet's view of the artistic process as a risky and daring endeavor, akin to an acrobat's performance. It was written during the Beat Generation, a period characterized by a rejection of conventional society and an exploration of new artistic expressions.

FormFree Verse

Themes & More

Themes

Artistic RiskCreativityPerformance

Literary devices

Metaphor: The poet is compared to an acrobat, highlighting the risks involved in creating art.Imagery: Vivid descriptions like 'eyebeams' and 'sea of faces' create a visual scene.Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds, such as in 'sleight-of-foot'.