Poetry Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Poetry Paper - Essay Example If there was rain, or storm, or hunger, the other day or maybe tomorrow, the bird trudges on, unmindful of the pain and sorrows that could have weighed people down. So it was with life, Cohen used the birdsong to remind his readers that everyday is an experience, the past is gone and the future is still inconsequential. This very moment is what is important and perhaps this point of view is the author’s version of the best way to live a life. With the birds, Cohen also introduced the concept of freedom, which he would further explain in his words about the dove later on. The bird is free from any baggage and so it can proceed on singing regardless of what has transpired before. It is, indeed, a powerful concept to emphasize the simplicity of life if one only takes the right kind of perspective. This introduction excellently laid the foundation for the more complex themes that would be explored by the author. In reality, for Cohen, â€Å"the dove is never free†. If it is , presently, â€Å"she will be caught again bought and sold and bought again†. Is it then a tragedy? The thought is heart-wrenching especially when one remembers those who have fallen just so the dove can fly. Emotions ran high here. The dove is an endearing symbol that evokes some sense from people to protect it. If one â€Å"listens† more carefully, Cohen seemed to hint another meaning or concept that the dove should represent – bondage. It is the dove’s fate to be chained as much as it represents war itself. Put in another way, wars would not have occurred if there was no dove in the first place. These thoughts would assault your mind as you read the lines about the bird being sold and bought like it was the most natural thing in the world. It is frustrating that wars will be fought again and again, promising a tiring battle that could break the human spirit. Fortunately, the message is not all about this sad narrative at all. As with the very first pa ssage, this part was used to emphasize a more important message. Immediately following this dark passage is a line that talked about the â€Å"crack†. And this was more significant since it paved the way for the main theme of the poem – survival, hope and persistence of the human spirit. It is interesting that they could all be excellently depicted by the word â€Å"crack†: There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in. Cohen also managed to infuse religious theme in two lines and they were added as if like an afterthought or a respite after some hard labor: Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering Its proximity to the â€Å"hope† and â€Å"war† themes, they also represented a transition towards the lines about the government. The religious theme, however, is stronger. With the two lines, Cohen asked for some form of awareness: Which of the bells no longer ring? Which are those that still can? And what is the perfect offering? These questions that the readers would eventually ask have some important implications. First, there is something not right with many religions or what they expect from their flock. We want to be saved but then Cohen is suggesting that many ways posited by the churches could be flawed and so we must ring those that still can and offer something different, one that though may not be perfect must be suitable. It