By: George Oppen!
George Oppen Born on April 24, 1908, Died July 7, 1984 Born and Raised in New Rochelle, New York, U.S. George began writing in 1929 and 1930 George wrote his first book which was the ‘Discrete Series” in the year of 1929 At one point George had given up and forgotten poetry and writing and joined the Communist Party USA, which was a highly influential force in many different struggles. George had become under investigation in 1950 by the Un- American Activities committee for his ideal beliefs.
Psalm by George Oppen Veritas sequitur … In the small beauty of the forest The wild deer bedding down- That they are there Their eyes Effortless, the soft lips Nuzzle and the alien small teeth Tear at the grass The roots of it Dangle from their mouths Scattering earth in the strange woods. They who are there Their paths Nibbles thru the fields, the leaves that shade them Hang in the distances Of sun The small nouns Crying faith In this in which the wild deer Startle, and stare out. This poem is Blank Verse This poem has 5 stanzas and 20 lines This Poem has no rhyme scheme
This Poem is a Lyric Poem This Poem is does not have similes but has Imagery
“In the small beauty of the forest The wild deer bedding down” These words describe deer making a home in the forest. “Nuzzle and the alien small teeth Tear at the grass” These words describe deer tearing the grass out of the ground and eating it.
“ The roots of it, Dangle from their mouths, Scattering earth in the strange woods” These words describe deer eating grass out of the woods, and leave pieces of grass left behind Their paths, Nibbled thru the field, leaves that shade them of sun” These words describe deer leaving footprints and paths in the woods, and shows how deer can make themselves blend into the nature and woods around them.
The Figurative Meaning of this poem is that someone that misses home. They get a taste of what its like to wander out in unfamiliar territory, which leaves them missing home. They set on a journey back towards home, but its still a distance away. As they get closer they are overwhelmed and stand watching their surroundings.
The Literal Meaning of this poem is deer in the forest bedding and eating their food, its saying that deer tear at the grass and the way there teeth look. Its saying how the deer roam the woods looking for food and trying to stay safe and alive, it mentions how deer leave footprints and paths behind them, and finally it says that deer get startled by some things but then sit and look at their surroundings
I think that the author’s purpose of writing this poem is that he is trying to tell us that even when we get lost in the world or even get off track and are trying to find your way home, that there will and could be many obstacles but you should try your hardest and shouldn’t give up.
The theme of the poem is that the poet is trying to send a message
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