Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Boat ...a review






A Boat

BY RICHARD BRAUTIGAN
O beautiful
was the werewolf
in his evil forest.
We took him
to the carnival
and he started
crying
when he saw
the Ferris wheel.
Electric
green and red tears
flowed down
his furry cheeks.
He looked
like a boat
out on the dark
water.



It seems strange to me that this is one of my favorite poems. I love the imagery it provides. 
   I also like that it allows the reader no clue on the meanings of its symbolism, so it may mean something different to each person. I think that is one of the most beautiful aspects of poetry, when the author leaves some mystery, lets you come to your own conclusions.
 
    My interpretation of this poem is as follows:
 

    Over simplified, I believe this poem is a contrast between good and evil. The evil/darkness being the werewolf and his forest home and the good/light being the carnival.
    It was very touching to me the thought of a creature that knew no lightness or goodness to see it for the first time. To cry at the sight of it. Imagine spending your whole life in a dark place full of struggle and then peeking in on a whole other way of life. You must feel like a victim of circumstances I loved picturing the reflection of the Ferris wheel lights in the werewolves tears. Perhaps he was crying out of sheer awe of seeing something so different from what he has ever known, something so good, such a change from his evil world. He might be crying also because though he could witness such a good happy place, he could never be a part of it. He would always be different and unable to enjoy such things along with everyone else.
    At the end of the poem " he was like a boat out on dark water".... for me this represented loneliness, hopelessness and alienation. Werewolves are often portrayed as being alone and alienated, different from all of mankind but partly the same. His alienation represented by the lone boat surrounded by water. Unreachable.

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