Poetry Analysis

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I choose a bench by the river today

Original Poetry

Translation

I choose a bench by the river today

I pick a bench by the river today

to close my eyes and let time flow through me,

to shut my eyes and feel time pass through me,

seconds dissolving before my patient breath.

seconds fading away with my calm breathing.

An eternity passes. I wait.

A long time goes by. I wait.

I watch as leaves grow vibrant with rain,

I watch as leaves become bright with rain,

flora flourishing in damp triumph

plants thriving in the wet

before the ground cracks into dust,

before the ground dries and cracks,

blowing clouds amongst the yellow grasses.

clouds of dust among the yellow grass.

I stand among beds of violet, gold, scarlet,

I stand among beds of purple, gold, red,

inhaling the crisp crunch of fallen leaves

breathing in the crunch of fallen leaves

which dull with every passing heartbeat

which fade with every heartbeat

until a mud-soaked memory is all that remains.

until only a muddy memory is left.

Explanation

This poem by Miaowla captures the serene yet fleeting nature of time and the environment. The speaker chooses a quiet spot by the river to meditate on the passage of time, symbolized by the flowing river and the dissolving seconds. The vibrant imagery of leaves and flora flourishing with rain contrasts with the eventual decay as the ground turns to dust. This cycle of growth and decay is mirrored in the speaker's reflection on memory, where vibrant experiences fade into 'mud-soaked' recollections. The poem uses vivid imagery and sensory details to evoke a deep connection with nature and the inevitable passage of time, inviting readers to appreciate the beauty and transience of life.

Word Dictionary9

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
dissolving	melting away	melting away	dih-zol-ving
eternity	forever	forever	ih-tur-ni-tee
vibrant	bright and lively	bright and lively	vai-bruhnt
flora	plants	plants	flor-uh
triumph	victory	a great success	trai-uhmf
scarlet	red	red	skar-let
crisp	fresh and firm	fresh and firm	krisp
dull	less bright	less bright	duhl
mud-soaked	covered in mud	heavily wet with mud	muhd-sohkt

Poet & Context

PoetMiaowla

EraContemporary

Miaowla is a contemporary poet known for exploring themes of time, nature, and memory in her work. Her poetry often reflects a deep connection with the natural world and the passage of time.

View on Wikipedia

WhenContemporary

WhyThe poem reflects on the passage of time and the transient beauty of nature. It captures the meditative experience of observing natural changes and the inevitable decay that follows.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

NatureTimeMemoryTransience

Literary devices

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of nature and time create a strong visual impact.Metaphor: Time is metaphorically described as flowing through the speaker.Personification: Time and nature are given human-like qualities, such as 'seconds dissolving' and 'flora flourishing'.Symbolism: The river symbolizes the passage of time, and the changing leaves symbolize the cycle of life.

Poetry Analysis

Back to poet

I choose a bench by the river today

Original Poetry

Translation

I choose a bench by the river today

I pick a bench by the river today

to close my eyes and let time flow through me,

to shut my eyes and feel time pass through me,

seconds dissolving before my patient breath.

seconds fading away with my calm breathing.

An eternity passes. I wait.

A long time goes by. I wait.

I watch as leaves grow vibrant with rain,

I watch as leaves become bright with rain,

flora flourishing in damp triumph

plants thriving in the wet

before the ground cracks into dust,

before the ground dries and cracks,

blowing clouds amongst the yellow grasses.

clouds of dust among the yellow grass.

I stand among beds of violet, gold, scarlet,

I stand among beds of purple, gold, red,

inhaling the crisp crunch of fallen leaves

breathing in the crunch of fallen leaves

which dull with every passing heartbeat

which fade with every heartbeat

until a mud-soaked memory is all that remains.

until only a muddy memory is left.

Explanation

Word Dictionary9

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
dissolving	melting away	melting away	dih-zol-ving
eternity	forever	forever	ih-tur-ni-tee
vibrant	bright and lively	bright and lively	vai-bruhnt
flora	plants	plants	flor-uh
triumph	victory	a great success	trai-uhmf
scarlet	red	red	skar-let
crisp	fresh and firm	fresh and firm	krisp
dull	less bright	less bright	duhl
mud-soaked	covered in mud	heavily wet with mud	muhd-sohkt

Poet & Context

PoetMiaowla

EraContemporary

Miaowla is a contemporary poet known for exploring themes of time, nature, and memory in her work. Her poetry often reflects a deep connection with the natural world and the passage of time.

View on Wikipedia

WhenContemporary

WhyThe poem reflects on the passage of time and the transient beauty of nature. It captures the meditative experience of observing natural changes and the inevitable decay that follows.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

NatureTimeMemoryTransience

Literary devices