Poem Found Here: "A Person Protests to Fate" by Jane Hirshfield This poem has a very didactic/koanic feel about it. The flow of the poem is very straightforward: the exposition, the insight to extremes then to "the long middle," but the very last sentence of the poem confuses me, but not like a koan, but grammatically. First, the general person asking a large statement: A person protests to fate: "The things you have caused me most to want are those that furthest elude me." Very straightforward and telegraphed. The protest is clear of not getting what they want the person wants. This statement will be the core of the poem since "Fate" responds "Fate nods. / Fate is sympathetic." Then there's a situation showing want: To tie the shoes, button a shirt, are triumphs for only the very young, the very old Note two t...
Formerly the RetailMFA, This is the Poetry Blog of Darrell Dela Cruz