Poet Research: Jorie Graham

AP Literature 07 April 2014

In poems by by Jorie Graham, themes of abstract beauty and exquisite experiences of happiness are rarely implemented. Instead, Graham’s work focuses on the imperfections of nature and the concept of “natural ways” in life. Born in 1950, Graham became the first woman to be appointed as Boylston Professor at Harvard University (Biography: Jorie Graham). Her works have been thought to sometimes mirror her troubled marriages. Following the completion of her undergraduate work as a film major at NYU, Graham became seriously interested in poetry. She has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize (1996) and the Forward Poetry Prize (2012). Currently, Graham is on medical leave from her job at Harvard University. The style of Graham's writing has drastically altered from her college to professional years: instead of writing with an emotional detachment to the environment, the recent works of Graham focus heavily on the uniqueness of the eye of the beholder. The poem that marks this change in style would be her turn-of-the-millennium poem for the New York Times, entitled “Prayer.” In an interview by the Daily Beast, Graham says that she was especially inspired to change her style of writing because of her “transition into maturity. [She] viewed everything differently” (The Daily Beast). Specifically, this development of style can be seen through her use of speaker. The speakers in her poems from her younger years as a poet, such as “Salmon,” lack detailed descriptions. Instead, the speaker is depicted to be surface-deep. In significance to “Salmon,” perhaps Graham found it best to maintain a tone of indifference in order to be objective of her description of the world around her. Contrary to my assumption, however, her interview with Carcanet Press states that “Graham felt that detached perspectives were those of mundane humans, of readers” (Carcanet). Presently, the speakers of her poems are, in fact, herself (Poet Organization). Although she continues to touch on the similar themes of nature and fate, Graham implements a much more personal perspective to further elaborate on the connotations of her work. Graham’s failed marriages and estranged personal relationships with her friends and family have inevitably led to a pessimistic outlook on life. Using poetry as an emotional escape, Graham’s work has consequently centered around her bitterness toward the many unfortunate events of life: goodbyes, failures, and death. The spark for her creativity in poetry, however, leaves the poetic content to be very discouraging for readers like myself. Not surprisingly, themes of disability and resentment are prominent in her work. “The Guardian Angel of a Little Utopia”, alludes to the youthfulness ― physical and emotional ― that Graham has seem to have

lost with time. Throughout the poem, a young cherub, assumed to be Graham, is compulsively rearranging flowers: “Shall I move them to the left? Into the light?” (The Guardian). Although the cherub gets dizzy, she is thankful to not have to mingle with the guests downstairs. Graham’s beautiful imagery of flowers and the cherub upstairs starkly contrasts with the loud, chaotic, elements of the scene downstairs (lines 14-29). Graham articulates her inability to stop time; from the perspective of herself in the poem, she is unable to find the beautiful angle of the flowers once again. Without this outlook of youth, Graham expresses the fear that she will no longer be able to find the beauty in nature ever again. Moreover, Graham’s biblical allusions to angels to represent an innocent child demonstrates her mid-life recourse as a newly divorced woman: God (Divided...). Because Graham is seemingly accustomed to doomed relationships and individuals who disappoint her, the romanticism of “The Guardian Angel of a Little Utopia” serves as an element of dramatic irony. However, instead of poeticized pieces used to illustrate a scene artistically, some of her works are explicit in its meaning. “The Way Things Work,” written similar to a journal entry of a diary, brings to light the notion that tradition is inferior to creativity. Similar to her other works, the poem is narrated by herself, specifically, from a present-day age (Poet Organization). Without a specific line structure or form, this stream of consciousness does not give much content to decipher as far as connotations go ― the fluid choice of diction describes a tone lacking hesitance. However, amidst the explicative facade of the poem are hidden insults; my favorite element of the poem. Graham uses phrases such as “I believe in you, cylinder” and “lift your small head” to depict a restrained sarcasm that threatens to be released in the face of any more ignorant thoughts of idealistic tradition. Although the sardonic tone is implemented throughout the poem, Graham does not fail to build upon a thematic resolution. Lines 4 and 5 suggest to “lessen resistance” and “uplift faith” in humanity (The Way Things Work). Taking her past experiences with relationships and her affinity for current political science into consideration, the subject of the poem can easily be related to society’s issues with gay marriage. As a reader, being able to draw bold conclusions about a single poem forces a student to reckon with the overwhelming possibilities of significant themes that are presented by Graham’s pieces. The poems written by Graham, specifically her poems from 2000 and on, certainly demonstrate meaning of literary merit through its eloquent breadth of experience: the reader can feel the loss of youth through the cherub’s compulsive behavior. The reader can empathize with

the speaker of “Salmon” as she faces her death. In essence, the reader is always licensed to feel an emotion through the words of the poem. The diction is often times informal, thus better depicting the mundane experiences in daily life. In addition, this diction creates ideas and themes that are relatable when reading her work. The syntax in Graham’s poems also contributes to the themes. An absent rhyme scheme and lack of form produce stream of consciousness writing in many of her works, creating the sense that the speaker ruminates in her thoughts as opposed to interacting with people, forming a tone of loneliness. While this prominent tone does not solely reflect on the author’s life, the speaker’s pessimism and distinct voice correlate directly to the author’s past experiences and her current attitude towards her disability. Coupled with the stream of consciousness form, Graham also employs numerous literary devices that enhance the portrayed concepts. Graham’s work is heavily influenced by her past; many of the themes seen in her poems revolve around the fulfillment of life―and in stark contrast―the hopelessness and loneliness that accompanies disability.

Bibliography "Biography: Jorie Graham." Jorie Graham. Jorie Graham, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. Gardner, Thomas. "The Art of Poetry No. 85, Jorie Graham." Paris Review. Paris Review, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. Graham, Jorie. "Contact Jorie Graham." Jorie Graham. Jorie Graham, 2008. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Graham, Jorie. "Prayer." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. . "The Guardian Angel Of The Little Utopia." Poem by Jorie Graham. Famous Poets and Poems, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. . Harvard Edu. "Department of English Faculty." Harvard University Department of English. Harvard University, 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. Hogan, Emma. "Divided by a Common Verse: Jorie Graham Wins the Forward Poetry Prize." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 2012. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. "Interview with Jorie Graham." Carcanet Press. Carcanet Press, June 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. "Jorie Graham Poems and Poetry." Jorie Graham Poems and Poetry. Famous Poems and Poets, 2008. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. "Jorie Graham." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. Poetry Foundation. "Jorie Graham." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, 2001. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. "Salmon." Salmon. Famous Poets and Poems, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. . "The Surface." The Surface. Famous Poets and Poems, 2008. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. .

"The Way Things Work." Poems by Jorie Graham. Famous Poets and Poems, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014. . Wikipedia. "Jorie Graham." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 June 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.