At first, this poem seemed to be filled with contradiction, however after reading it over several times, I find that to be false. I read each line, and came to realize that she may have been battling with her own feelings, but she was never in the dark with what she truly felt. For example, I read the lines, she had some horses who laughed too much, and she had some horses who licked razor blades, and I thought they were contradicting at first. Then I looked closer and realized, that with laughing "too" much, this would be why she would then lick razor blades, it's kind of like biting your tongue. This is why "too much" is important, it shows that the laughter was too excessive and therefore, she would hold her tongue, or "lick razor blades." Other lines I thought were contradicting were, she had horses who thought they were the sun and their bodies shone and burned like stars, and the line she had horses who were much too shy, and kept quiet in shalls of their own making. I looked at these two lines and thought that the sun would not be shy, but looking at it again I see that the horses"thought" they were the sun and burned like stars, but it doesn't say they were the sun, this seems like something a shy person in a shall of their own making would dream of. They are becoming something "in their own making" why not it be a burning star?
I agree that the horses are neither male or female because these horses all represent, or have experienced things that both the male and female person would be, or go through. Either male or female could have cried in their beer, said they weren't afraid, thought that their high price had saved them. These are all things that both man and woman can experience.
There are a lot of truths to this poem. Everyone comes to a point where they've laughed too much, and felt like they needed to lick razor blades, for doing so. Everyone lies, has had to wait for destruction, and has gotten on their knees for any savior. (religious or not) All these things circle back to her last three lines, She had some horses she loved, she had some horses she hated, these were the same horses. We all have faults, and we all have good qualities, but no matter what we have or who we are these are what makes us who we are. Good or bad, in the end these are the same horses, because this is who you are.
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- Vera_Vicious
- *Vera Vicious* 24, Ohio >Eye Candy Model< Piercing Artist @ThunderBunnyTattoos FEMINIST Horror Fanatic Writer/Artist BiPride Outspoken and Motivated
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I like your interpretation of the laughing/razor blades lines. I wasn't really sure how to take it, but I think you did a mighty fine job figuring it out.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the interpretation of her poem. How clever that you realized that licking razor blades could tie in with laughing too much! I never even thought of that. A very interesting read and perspective on her poem, here. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour take on the "contradictions" that some thought have occurred in Harjo's poem was a great insight. I found that there was contradiction, but I did not recognize the subtle lines that must have passed me by. I liked the reasoning behind why you thought the horses were genderless and more of spirits because they are more of experiences than actual life forms.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that at first the poem seems contradicting, but I also then viewed the poem as having internal conflict. I really like the idea that you brought up about how each thing is a truth coming out. The conclusion also caught my attention because it really supports the idea of internal conflict that we all have faults and good qualities that make us up.
ReplyDeleteGreat response! This is really well organized. I am glad you address the horses that laughed "too much" because I struggled to figure out how to interpret this. You said exactly what I was thinking. I knew the "too much" was important because the speaker could have easily just said that the horses laughed, but she chose not to, so obviously there was more to it. I like how you interpreted "licking razor blades" and used it to back up what you had said before about the horses who laughed too much.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am a little confused about your first paragraph. You said that at first glance that the poem is not made up of contradictions, but then you contradict yourself and further discuss the contradicting lines in the poem. Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I am just confused about whether or not you think the lines contradict each other because you talk about how they don't, but they do.
really great interpretation! I would have never looked so deeply into the lick razor blades line. It really made me think!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your insight on the razor blades and biting your tongue line. I never thought of it this way and it really helps to add meaning to the poem. Also, I like when you said that the horses are neither male and female because they can both experience all of these motions. I completely agree with this.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the way you interpreted the last lines in that you brought several of her descriptions full circle and linked them to the horses she both loved and hated. I agree that they are what comprise both her and her life. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI like the thoughts about the truths you recognize in the poem. I had also thought about the same things but not in as much detail as yours. i loved reading it!
ReplyDeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an insightful look into the poem. Your original thought and arguments show that you really took the time to look beyond the words and read the language of them.
I like your line by line analysis in the first paragraph. It was a very interesting argument that you supported well with evidence from the poem as well as personal opinion.
ReplyDeleteYou really shed some different light on this poem for me. I thought many of the lines were contradictory too until I read your post! I especially liked your take on the razor blade licking. Would have never thought of it that way, but you bring much sense to it.
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