I want to talk about Steve’s point of what “poetics” means and he describes it has a singular and plural, then he describes it has “theory of form”. then goes into his idea of ocean thinking when it comes to Poetics. How we read poetry and novels and flip our mindset to an ocean way of thinking to discover this theory of the ocean and how it relates to us and art.
An Everywhere of Silver,
With Ropes of Sand
To keep it from effacing
The Track called Land.
“The Silver does not efface the Land in this poem… The sea-silver the poet presents feels
like a cloud when you walk through it on an alpine hike—soft, wet, intangible, insistently
present” it may be obvious to some that Dickinson is talking about the ocean in this poem but some to not so but its the way this poem is so small but so much unpack. This idea of looking at the ocean maybe on a winter morning and only seeing silver everywhere is so striking to me, and he usage of effacing, I just love the word choice, sand being the reason why the ocean comes to a stop and how we have a clear defining point to land and ocean
Hi Sam! I also enjoyed Steve Mentz’s analysis of this poem. Emily Dickinson’s poetry is so notable for her use of imagery and bringing nonhuman entities to life. I especially enjoyed the “ropes of sand,” wording, and interpreted it as this temporary restrictive device that keeps the ocean from encroaching upon the land. After all, ropes are subject to deterioration from the elements, and can not contain such a powerful force for long. I also enjoyed how you singled out Steve Mentz’s association of The Silver, with the experience of walking through a cloud. Its something I can only equate with the thick marine layer of fog that settles on the beach on an early morning, and reminds me that even if we don’t take a step into the ocean, it reaches out to touch you, and settles on your skin through fog or sea spray.
I have also found it intriguing that Whitman is able to play with imagery and make total sense! I read the silver as when one sees the beach during sunset hour, so I think on his part, the time of day is critical within this poem? You are correct for sure that there is more than just representation of the ocean, but to add to that importance, the literal division of the land and the sea. I think the coexistence of each other are presented, but boundaries are acknowledged. In Whitman’s mind, I guess its a marvel to how both subjects– land and sea– work together to create a representation of worldview and how we should view tension as a means to build upon negotiation and understanding than leaving as two extreme sides in society.