She Stood Above Me
In Stephen L. Harrison's poem "She Stood Above Me," the speaker reflects on a profound emotional connection with a beloved figure, depicted as a towering presence akin to a mountain peak. The opening lines, "She stood above me. / Not in judgment, no, / but like a mountain peak / catching the first light," establish a tone of reverence and admiration, suggesting that the speaker feels both small and uplifted in her presence. This imagery evokes feelings of vulnerability and aspiration, as the speaker likens himself to "a tiny seed at her root," yearning to grow and reach for the sun.
The poem shifts to explore the complexities of love, where the speaker describes love as a whisper amidst the louder shouts of his heart. The metaphor of words as "rocks, / too heavy to lift, too rough to share" illustrates the struggle to communicate deep emotions to friends who may not understand the internal turmoil symbolized by "the storms that churn inside." This emotional arc conveys a sense of isolation, emphasizing the need for a safe space where the speaker can authentically express himself.
As the poem progresses, the tone evolves from longing to a sense of solace found in the quiet moments shared with the beloved. The line "It's not the thunder of God's voice, / but the soft hum of angels" contrasts the chaos of external noise with the peace found in love, suggesting that true connection brings tranquility. The imagery of a moth drawn to a flame encapsulates the irresistible attraction the speaker feels, highlighting the intensity of desire and the beauty of the beloved.
The poem culminates in a declaration of loyalty and enduring love, reinforced by the metaphor of the beloved as a "beacon" and "a safe harbour above me." Harrison's use of light imagery throughout the poem signifies clarity and truth in their relationship. The speaker's request for the light to remain on symbolizes a desire for transparency and authenticity in love, emphasizing the importance of seeing each other as they truly are. Ultimately, the poem celebrates the sacredness of love, the beauty of shared experiences, and the strength found in loyalty, making it a poignant reflection on human connection.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| stood | remained in a position | to be in an upright position | stood |
| judgment | evaluation or opinion | the act of forming an opinion about someone or something | judgment |
| mountain | large natural elevation | a large landform that rises prominently above its surroundings | mountain |
| peak | top point | the highest point of something | peak |
| catching | grabbing or seizing | to capture or take hold of something | catching |
| light | brightness | the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible | light |
| felt | experienced an emotion | to experience a sensation or emotion | felt |
| small | little in size | not large; of a size that is less than normal | small |
| tiny | very small | extremely small in size | tiny |
| seed | plant reproductive part | the part of a plant that can grow into a new plant | seed |
| wondering | thinking about something with curiosity | to think about something with curiosity or to be uncertain | wondering |
| reach | extend towards | to stretch out or extend towards something | reach |
| sun | the star at the center of our solar system | the luminous celestial body that provides light and warmth to the Earth | sun |
| whispers | speaks softly | to speak very softly or quietly | whispers |
| shouting | crying out loudly | to call out or speak loudly | shouting |
| friends | companions or allies | people with whom one has a bond of mutual affection | friends |
| rocks | solid mineral material | hard substances that are found on the Earth's surface | rocks |
| heavy | having great weight | weighing a lot; difficult to lift | heavy |
| rough | not smooth | having an uneven or irregular surface | rough |
| share | to divide and distribute | to give a portion of something to others | share |
| understand | to grasp the meaning | to comprehend or grasp the significance of something | understand |
| storms | violent weather conditions | disturbances in the atmosphere that can cause strong winds and rain | storms |
| churn | to mix vigorously | to stir or agitate intensely | churn |
| thunder | loud sound from lightning | the sound that follows lightning during a storm | thunder |
| cracks | breaks with a sharp noise | to break or make a sudden sharp noise | cracks |
| release | to set free | to allow something to be free or to escape | release |
| open | not closed | not shut; allowing access | open |
| door | entryway | a movable barrier that allows entry or exit | door |
| place | location | a particular position or area | place |
| lay | to put down | to place something down in a flat position | lay |
| quiet | calm and silent | making little or no noise | quiet |
| sacred | holy or revered | regarded with reverence and respect | sacred |
| space | area or expanse | a continuous area or expanse that is free or unoccupied | space |
| just | only | merely; no more than | just |
| God's | of God | belonging to or associated with God | God's |
| voice | sound produced by a person | the sound produced by the vocal cords | voice |
| hum | low continuous sound | a steady, low sound made by a person or thing | hum |
| angels | spiritual beings | messengers of God in various religious traditions | angels |
| melody | musical tune | a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying | melody |
| stills | calms or makes quiet | to make something calm or quiet | stills |
| chaos | complete disorder | a state of utter confusion or disorder | chaos |
| eyes | organs of sight | the organs that allow us to see | eyes |
| flicker | to shine unsteadily | to burn or shine with a wavering light | flicker |
| moth | insect attracted to light | a type of insect that is attracted to light | moth |
| flame | visible part of fire | the visible, gaseous part of a fire | flame |
| drawn | pulled towards | to be attracted or pulled towards something | drawn |
| singular | unique or one of a kind | being the only one of its kind | singular |
| heat | warmth | the quality of being hot | heat |
| fire | combustion that produces heat and light | the process of combustion that produces flames | fire |
| presence | state of being present | the state of being in a particular place | presence |
| sight | ability to see | the ability to see; vision | sight |
| crave | to desire intensely | to have an intense desire for something | crave |
| secret | something hidden | something that is kept unknown or concealed | secret |
| beauty | pleasing quality | the quality of being pleasing or attractive | beauty |
| created | made or formed | to bring something into existence | created |
| landscape | visible land area | the visible features of an area of land | landscape |
| walk | to move on foot | to move by putting one foot in front of the other | walk |
| breath | air taken in or expelled | the air that is inhaled or exhaled | breath |
| Loyalty | faithfulness | the quality of being loyal or faithful | Loyalty |
| assured | guaranteed or certain | to be certain or confident about something | assured |
| holds | maintains or keeps | to have or keep in a particular position | holds |
| strong | powerful or sturdy | having great physical power or strength | strong |
| endures | lasts over time | to continue to exist or last despite difficulties | endures |
| there | in that place | in or at that place | there |
| towering | very tall | extremely tall or high | towering |
| beacon | signal light | a guiding or warning signal | beacon |
| safe | protected from harm | not in danger; secure | safe |
| harbour | sheltered port | a place on the coast where vessels may find shelter | harbour |
| ask | to request | to make a request or inquiry | ask |
| refraction | bending of light | the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another | refraction |
| bending | curving or shaping | to shape or curve something | bending |
| appear | to seem or look | to become visible or noticeable | appear |
| something | an unspecified thing | a thing that is not specifically identified | something |
| else | other than this | in addition to or different from what has been mentioned | else |
| stay | to remain in place | to continue to be in a specified state or condition | stay |
| see | to perceive with the eyes | to perceive or detect with the eyes | see |
| curves | bends or arcs | to have a rounded shape | curves |
Stephen L. Harrison is a contemporary poet known for exploring themes of love, nature, and personal introspection in his work.