John Ashbery’s “The Instruction Manual” presents a deceptively simple narrative of imaginative escape. On a closer examination it reveals a complex interplay of reality, fantasy, and the artistic process itself. As with much of Ashbery’s work, we are confronted with a surface of apparent banality – the tedium of composing an instruction manual – which…
Tag: poetry
Gertrude Stein and Emily Dickinson: An Exploration of Divergent Paths but Shared Modernist Impulse
Gertrude Stein and Emily Dickinson, are two monumental stars in American literature; they revolutionized poetry through their distinct yet equally groundbreaking approaches. While their styles appear vastly different, a closer examination reveals a shared commitment to challenging linguistic norms and reshaping the very nature of meaning in our transcendental thoughts within the modernist movement. Gertrude…
The Uncarved Block: Finding Resonance in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson and the Wisdom of Lao Tzu
At first glance, the reclusive American poet Emily Dickinson and the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu might seem worlds apart. Yet, a closer look reveals a surprising resonance in their observations about the nature of reality, particularly in their shared appreciation for the concept of “P’u” or the uncarved block. In the Tao Te Ching,…
Discovering the Essence of Imagism: An Analysis of “Some Imagist Poets”
By: Maryam Daftari The anthology “Some Imagist Poets” presents a captivating collection of poems that adhere to the principles of Imagism, a movement that emphasizes clarity, precision, and the use of concrete images. By analyzing the poems through the lens of their topics and author backgrounds, we can uncover fascinating insights into the essence of…
Maryam Daftari Photography, Poetry, Commentary 