What interests me about this poem by P.K. Page, is that she did write it
about our *world* with a poet's conscience mind on the subject - in other
words the 'thin skin of this planet - [should] be loved and stroked' - like
skin. It seems to me that the objections are to it's sensual female voice, -
the juxtaposition of the woman at the ironing board - the mundane.
Throughout history women spent hours and hours ironing, pleating, spraying,
starching, crimping etc. So, this sensual aestheticism, (synaesthesia) to
me, portrays a definite woman's view of how we should nuture our earth.
Astronauts in space see the debris/pollution on earth, wouldn't it be nice
for them to report back an earth orbiting in space (from every angle) like a
freshly pressed shirt, smelling like washed *grasses and mosses* with a bit
of Fabulon thrown in. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with the
message.
As far as the last stanza, I think it could have ended with/or on the
stronger line - 'and the hands keep on moving' - like a continuum of
development, per se with the processes of laundry work, as *thorough
cleansing.* And perhaps, stayed with, as Alison said, one metaphor alone.
But this is a minor criticism, and who am I to judge. Moreover, it did get
picked and there is much discussion. I wish my poetry could get this kind of
media.
Helen
why would we want to choose a "pretentious and silly"
>poem to read at the top of Mt. Everest, the UN, etc., on World Poetry
>Day (or whatever this event is called)?
>
>Candice
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
|