February 14th, 2012
Choice Reading- A Stone is Nobody’s
The reading that I chose to read was a poem called, A Stone is Nobody’s. I chose this is one of my favorite poems I haven’t read it in a while, so I decided to re-read it today. The poem is about a man who has a stone that he keeps as a prisoner. His mother tries to explains to him that he cannot hold this stone captive and that it is he who is truly the prisoner. After I read this poem for the first time I was so captured. I wanted to go back and try to almost decode the poem. I just loved it! I then read it to everyone I knew and asked what they thought about it. I don’t know, but this poem is just so intriguing to me and I love to read over every so often. That is why I chose to use it as my choice reading. I also just love poetry. By reading it to others we can discus what we perceive the stone to be. This poem has so much symbolism which is why I love it so much because I re-read it many times, getting more out of it and making more connections each time.
Citiation
Edson, Russell. A Stone is Nobody’s.
A Stone is Nobody’s
By: Russell Edson
A man ambushed a stone. Caught it. Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the
rest of his life.
His mother asked why.
He said, because it's held captive, because it is
captured.
Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know
whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old.
The stone is only sleeping.
But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.
A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are
conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.
Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me,
he said.
Which is true, because you have always been to me as
the stone is to you, she said.
I've never heard this poem, but it is intriguing! I never enjoyed poetry when I was younger because it frustrated me that poets would never just say what they really mean. Now, I have a much deeper appreciation for poems AND poets. Do you write any poetry?
ReplyDeleteThe mother seems so harsh in this poem. It's also revealing of the author's view of time, eternity, and relationships.
I know what you mean, that can be frustrating. I have always loved poetry because when I was younger I loved Shel Silverstein's poems! I do write poetry! :-) I have written a few things and I also have written parts of lyrics to songs, which is like poetry :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are very creative and gifted in many areas!
ReplyDelete