Poem Analysis
Poem: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-desolation-2/
Poet: Allen Ginsberg
In the poem "Desolation" by Allen Ginsberg he expresses his feelings and thought about his life so far. "Now mind is clear/as a cloudless sky/ Time then to make a/ home in wilderness." In this quote infers the sense of serendity he has with himself. Also, he expresses his feelings about how he wants to settle down and have a home implying a wife and children. Then he goes on "What have I done but/ wander with my eyes on the trees..." he means that he has been with many different women, but he is ready to be monogamous and find a wife. "Or I perish of lonesomeness/ or want of food or/ lightning or the bear/ (must tame the hart/ and wear the bear)." In this quote he really means that when he gets older and doesn`t have a family he will die of loneliness. And the only thing to solve this is the love and affection from a family. "And maybe make an image of my wandering, a little/ image-shrine by the roadside to signify to traveler that I live/ here in the wilderness/ awake and at home." Lastly, he says if this happens he will tell a young person or " a traveler" his story and warn them on the importance of having a family, in which he never got this. He said he lived in a wilderness which can symbolize a dangerous place or state of mind, and abandonment.
Literary Devices
In the poem "a desolaltion" there are many literary devices such as a hyperbole. An example of a hyperbole in this poem is"Or I perish of lonesomeness" in which the poet exaggerates or over emphasizes this statement by saying he will die from being to lonely.Also another literary device is assonance. An example of assonance is "wear the bear" in this quote there is a repetition of vowels sounds.Analogy is a literary device used in the poem. An example of analogy is "Now mind is clear/as a cloudless sky." This is an analogy because it establishes a relationship between two concepts/ideas.