preview

Analysis Of The Poem ' After A Greek Proverb '

Better Essays

After a Greek Proverb is an eloquent poem written by A.E. Stallings in 1968. It’s a villanelle that expands a Greek proverb that translates into: “nothing is so enduring as the accidental”. The only thing that is consistent in life is the inconsistent; emotions, objects, thoughts, etc. This notion is merely revealed with more sophisticated diction through the original Greek proverb. Yet many can pull positivity from this lesson, having a better understanding of the things around them and how living a life of none attachment can be rewarding if everything will continue to disappear before them. The proverb starts the conversation but the poem goes deeper and illustrates it by pointing out the negative side if we are to flip over the coin. It’s through this analysis of a positive and negative side, do both the poems and proverb gradually begin to differ, in both structure and focus. Consequentially the poem delves into the tragic cost of seeing nothing more permanent than the temporary. The poem touches on these costs when is examines regret, a feeling unsettlement, and the fear of good fortune. For now, regret will be discussed. Of course when faced with this reality of temporary aspects of life, it is no surprise the speaker had trouble starting anything. This is evident in lines such as; “We’re here for the time being, I answer to the query-/Just for a couple years, we said, a dozen years ago…Nostalgia and tear gas have the same acrid smack …Twelve years now and we’re

Get Access