I feel like I read somewhere that this poem was to and in reference to poets. I looked back to find my source for that idea and I cannot find anything similar anymore. So, while I cannot locate the source for that statement, I cannot un-see the poem from the idea it is written to and about poets.
If Jeffers is indeed referring to Poets as "stone cutters" then per the title, this poem is written to poets.
Stone-cutters fighting time with marble, you foredefeated
Poets wanting to be remembered, wanting to write their poems in stone
Challengers of oblivion
Poets see the world from a different point of view, often a point of view no one else sees
Eat cynical earnings, knowing rock splits, records fall down,
The continue their work despite sceptics
The square-limbed Roman letters
Referencing a type-writer?
Scale in the thaws, wear in the rain. The poet as well
Through the hard times, the poet continues to work
Builds his monument mockingly;
Continues his work with or without positive recognition
For man will be blotted out, the blind earth die, the brave sun
Men die, as do crops and other things of the earth, under the sun
Yet stones have stood for a thousand years, and painted thoughts found
But words remain - passed on through generations
The honey of peace in old poems.
A sweet comfort is found in old poems
Jeffers, Robinson. To the Stone Cutters, pgs. 409.
Hello
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I think this is kind of funny because you have like one sentence and you get straight to the point. I love how you broke everything down because the reader helped me understand what was going on at the same time while. Well done by the next time I will try to do it your way cut it seemed a little easier. Nice job.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I have such a hard time analyzing poetry, I am much more the practice prose person. As hard as I try to capture the artist's meaning in poetry I still prefer straight comments of purpose. The way you broke this down, line by line, was very helpful for someone who lacks the imagination of a poet.