Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 4:51 PM
Touched by An Angel by Maya Angelou
Touched by An Angel by Maya AngelouWe, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
Personification
"love strikes away the chains of fear"-The writer uses this to show that if we want an object, our love for it will make us brave enough to go and get it.
Metaphor
"live coiled in shells of loneliness"-The writer uses this metaphor to express that we tend to keep to ourselves when we feel lonely.
I like this poem simply because what it says is true and the poet is able to express its meaning in a very simple manner. When I read this poem, I thought back to my own personal experiences and found that it is indeed true. If you want something but lack the courage to do so, you will not get it. However, if you want something until the extent of loving it, you will find yourself with the bravery to reach out and grab it. I also like the part "old memories of pleasure" and "ancient histories of pain" because it gives me a subtle feeling. It feels as if the words are echoing in my head. I guess this is one of the many pleasures of poetry. A word within a word. A story behind a story. A meaning within a poem.
Post a Comment