Original poem reprinted online here: "How I Understand Eternity' by Brian Swann Originally read: September 26, 2013 More information about the Poet: Brian Swann Even though the first line is a statement, the line brings up an rhetorical question, "Organisms evolved colors before / there were eyes to see them." The question the reader imposes on this line is, "why?" But the thing about this poem is how the poem evolves. Don't be tricked by the change in the first line. "I take a look before floating / to the Cretaceous where colors / are now butterflies and beetles." Not a redefinition, a shift of colors take shape into actual specific animals -- butterflies and beetles. Two things of note, the introduction of the "I" speaker comes in as an observer, and the adjusted lines structure the evolution of the poem. "shaping themselves to flowers / of sassafras and magnolia." Now the poem goes into a stream-of-consciousness mo...
Formerly the RetailMFA, This is the Poetry Blog of Darrell Dela Cruz