What is the theme of the poem Home for the Aged?
Home For the Aged by Elizabeth Brewster:
The old men sit, five of them on a bench,
Half sleeping, half awake, dazed by the sun,
In the muted afternoon, between one broadcast ball game and the next
Their thoughts are leaves that drifted across a sky perpetually autumn.
Their hands are folded: they have done with the Sunday papers.
Decorously shabby, decently combed and clean,
They watch with half closed eyes the passers-by,
The loitering lovers, the boys on bikes , the cars
Rushing eagerly to some scene of active life .
Their lives are folded up like the papers, and who can know
Whether their years passed sober and discreet,
With the measured, dutiful, regular click of a clock,
Or whether some old violence lingers still
In faded headlines on their dusty brains?
What boyhood do they wander in, what middle age forget?
And do they watch their dwindling stock of time
With hope, or resignation, or despair?
Read this very carefully and let us know what you think.
http://literarydevices.net/theme/
the theme is thoughts of elderly? This poem seems confusing.. it is either really easy and literal or metaphoric..
don't read this poem
The theme of the poem "Home for the Aged" by Elizabeth Brewster revolves around the lives and thoughts of the elderly men living in the home. The poem explores the contrast between their current state of being and their past experiences. It raises questions about the nature of their lives, the passage of time, and the emotions they may be experiencing.
To understand the theme of a poem or any literary work, it is important to closely analyze the content and imagery presented. Start by noting specific details and patterns in the poem, such as the description of the old men sitting on a bench, their appearance and actions, and the observations made about their lives.
In this poem, Brewster describes the old men as being in a state of semi-consciousness, dazed by the sun and half-sleeping. Their thoughts are compared to drifting leaves in perpetual autumn, suggesting a sense of stagnation and fading vitality. The mention of the Sunday papers being folded up highlights their detachment from the outside world and the passing of time.
The poem also contrasts the old men's stationary state with the movement and energy of the passers-by, such as the lovers, boys on bikes, and rushing cars. This emphasizes the contrast between their current existence and their memories of more active and vibrant times.
Brewster raises questions about the lives these men have led, whether they were sober and orderly or marked by some kind of hidden violence. The mention of faded headlines on their brains suggests a mix of memories and forgotten experiences. The poem ends with uncertainty about how the old men perceive their remaining time - whether with hope, resignation, or despair.
By examining these details and considering the emotions and ideas conveyed throughout the poem, one can interpret the theme of "Home for the Aged" as an exploration of the lives, memories, and emotions of elderly individuals living in a home, as well as the contrast between their current state and past experiences.