SEEING POETRY

DEFINITION
Poem – a type of writing that expresses emotions, typically in a pattern.

IMAGERY: Seeing with Our Minds

An image is a representation of anything we can see, hear, taste, touch, or smell. A realistic
painter or sculptor can create an image of an apple so true to life that we’d like to eat it or feel its
weight and roundness on our hands. A poet, using only words, can make us see and feel, taste,
and smell an apple by describing it as “rosy,” “shinny,” “heavy,” “mushy,” “sweet.”

We can even distinguish poets on the basis of the imagery they use. Poets who live in the
country, as Robert Frost did, usually draw their images from nature. Poets who live in cities,
as Langston Hughes did, usually draw their images from the sights, smells, and sounds of
city life.

Two Poets, One Moon

To see how imagery works, look at two poems about the moon. The first poem, by John
Haines, introduces many variations on the image of the moon. Can you find the image that tells
us the poem was written after 1969, when humans first disturbed the dust of the moon and left
their debris on its surface? The second poem, by Emily Dickinson, was written more than a
hundred years earlier than Haines’ poem, long before the romantic “moon of the poet” had been
soiled and scratched by scientific instruments. More important, Dickinson also wrote long before
two terrible wars changed the ways poets looked at the world.

Imagery and Feelings

These two moon poems show us something else that imagery can do. The poets, through their
evocative imagery, tell us how they feel about the moon. Haines’ images of the “moon of the
poet” are ironic and violent. As we see this moon in our minds, we share his sadness and even
anger over human capacity for destruction.

Dickinson, on the other hand uses romantic images that help us see another moon and share
other feelings. Her moon is personified as a beautiful woman, even a queen, dressed in all the
beauties of the night sky. Images of gold, beryl, dew, amber, silver, trinkets, and dimities help us
share her feelings of wonder, admiration, and perhaps playfulness.

Thus, images are not made just for the eye. When we read poetry, we must arrive at that point
where we can say to the poet not only “I see the picture you are creating,” but also “I see what
you are feeling, I see what you mean.”

Moons The Moon was but a Chin of Gold

There are moons like continents, The moon was but a Chin of Gold
diminishing to a white stone A night or two ago—
soflty smoking And now she turns Her perfect Face
in a fog-bound ocean. Upon the World below—
Equinoctial moons,
immense rainbarrels spilling
their yellow water.
Moons like eyes turned inward,
hard and bulging
on the blue cheek of eternity.
And moons half-broken,
eaten by eagle shadows…
But the moon of the poet
is soiled and scratched, its seas
are flowing with dust.
And other moons are rising.
swollen like boils—
In their bloodshot depths
the warfare of planets
silently drips and festers.
--John Haines
Equinoctial – when day and night are of
equal length.
Her Forehead—a Beryl hewn—
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known—
Her Lips of Amber never part—
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will—
And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star—
For Certainty She takes Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door—
Her Bonnet is the Firmament—
The Universe—Her Shoe—
The Stars—the Trinkets at Her Belt—
Her Dimities—of Blue—
--Emily Dickinson
beryl – mineral that usually occurs in crystal
of blue, green, pink or yellow
firmament – sky
dimities – dress of cotton material
 Looking at the poems and the imagery we have identified – discuss how the poets feel about
the moon.

Possible Answers:

Haines – ironic and violent – can see his sadness and even anger over the human interference
with the moon

Dickinson – romantic images – personification of a beautiful woman

Question: How does the use of imagery in both of these poems help us not only to see what the
poet wants us to see, but also to feel what the poet wants us to feel?

"Pagsamo"

Kung bibitaw nang mahinahon

Ako ba'y lulubayan ng ating
Mga kahapon na 'di na kayang
Ayusin ng lambing

Mga pangako ba'y sapat na

Upang muli tayong ipagtagpo ng hinaharap
Ba't pa ipapaalala 'di rin naman panghahawakan
Ba't pa ipipilit kung 'di naman tayo ang

Para sa isa't-isa ooh

'Di ba sinta tayong dalawa lang noon
Para sa isa't-isa oh hohh
Ba't 'di sumang-ayon sa 'tin ang panahon

Siguro nga'y wala nang natira

Sa mga sinulat mo na para sa 'kin
 Alam kong luha ang bumubura
Ngunit hayaan mo na lang

Walang saysay ang panalangin ko

Kung 'di ako ang hahanapin mo
Kahit sigaw pa ang pagsamo ko sa 'yo
Bakit 'di mo dama 'to

Ba't pa ipapaalala 'di rin naman panghahawakan

Ba't pa ipipilit kung 'di naman tayo ang

Para sa isa't-isa ooh

'Di ba sinta tayong dalawa lang noon
Para sa isa't-isa oh hohh
Ba't 'di sumang-ayon sa 'tin ang panahon

Para sa isa't-isa ooh

'Di ba sinta tayong dalawa lang noon
Para sa isa't-isa
Ba't 'di sumang-ayon sa 'tin ang panahon

-- Arthur Nery