ms. sue i need help with this poem why it be opposite of what it mean?
This was a day when nothing happened,
the children went off to school
without a murmur, remembering
their books, lunches, gloves.
All morning, the baby and I built block stacks
in the squares of light on the floor.
And lunch blended into naptime,
I cleaned out kitchen cupboards,
one of those jobs that never gets done,
then sat in a circle of sunlight
and drank ginger tea,
watched the birds at the feeder
jostle over lunch’s little scraps.
A pheasant strutted from the hedgerow,
preened and flashed his jeweled head.
Now a chicken roasts in the pan,
and the children return,
the murmur of their stories dappling the air.
I peel carrots and potatoes without paring my thumb.
We listen together for your wheels on the drive.
Grace before bread.
And at the table, actual conversation,
no bickering or pokes.
And then, the drift into homework.
The baby goes to his cars, drives them
along the sofa’s ridges and hills.
Leaning by the counter, we steal a long slow kiss,
tasting of coffee and cream.
The chicken’s diminished to skin & skeleton,
the moon to a comma, a sliver of white,
but this has been a day of grace
in the dead of winter,
the hard knuckle of the year,
a day that unwrapped itself
like an unexpected gift,
and the stars turn on,
order themselves
into the winter night.
The poet starts by saying nothing happened today.
But she tells of many things she did. Although it was an ordinary day, she thoroughly enjoyed all of it. It was a day of grace, a gift.
She made her family and herself happy.
thanks very much ms. sue :) do the poem have irony?
The poem you shared is titled "A Day of Grace" by Patricia Fargnoli. It describes a seemingly uneventful day in the life of the speaker, yet it is portrayed as a day of grace in the midst of winter. The poem highlights the beauty and significance of ordinary moments that are often overlooked.
To understand why the poem may seem to be the opposite of what it means, we can look at the contrast between the seemingly mundane events described in the poem and the underlying message of finding grace and beauty in everyday life. Despite the lack of extraordinary events, the speaker finds joy and contentment in the small joys and routines, such as spending time with her baby, watching birds, having a cup of tea, cooking, and being present with her family.
In terms of poetic devices, the use of imagery helps convey the emotions and experiences of the speaker. The blocks of light on the floor, the circle of sunlight, the birds at the feeder, the pheasant's jeweled head, and the moon as a comma all contribute to creating vivid, sensory images that enhance the reader's understanding of the poem.
The poem's structure also contributes to its meaning. It is written in free verse, which allows the poet to experiment with form and create a natural flow. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter adds to the sense of the poem capturing the ordinary moments of a regular day.
In conclusion, "A Day of Grace" presents a paradoxical notion of finding grace and beauty in the simplicity and routine of everyday life. The poem invites readers to reflect on the significance of these seemingly mundane moments and appreciate the true value they hold.