"The Fish" made me feel like if the writer is a curious person. From my perspective she doesn't go out fishing very often because in that case she wouldn't be describing this one fish. I believe this poem is an example of our lives compared to animals (fishes) because everything that she would say about the fish, she would compare it to the human world. While shes describing the fish shes letting the readers know in a way or another that this fish has gone threw a lot. The fish put up many battles but because of its old age it was time to stop fighting and give up. It seems like if shes having flashback because of this fish. I am actually struggling because the writer made me feel like she fish wasnt moving or doing anything to fight for freedom or to breath. Which seems weird because i know a fish moves alot when it can not breath and when a person cant breath they cant stay still either. At the end shes yelling out rainbow, in the bible rainbow is what God told Noah not to do, destroying mankind in such a way ever again.
And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; (Genesis 9:13-16, KJV) The way she describe this fish is similar to this quote that i took from the bible. She might be religious, curious of Gods creation and just put the fish back because of Gods covenant to Noa. We cannot destroy just because we want to and that is why i believe she saids rainbow rainbow. Our environment is a beautiful place which this one ugly fish let the writer see.
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Finding beauty in "ugliness," or what would not conventionally be thought of as "beautiful," is one important aspect of the poem--note that the rainbow itself is formed by oil seepage onto the water surface from the boat motors.
ReplyDeleteThe biblical quote is an iteresting ref. point, since the poem does deal with the relationship/interaction between humans and nature. The idea of "covenant" may be interpreted in various ways--in terms of the imagery of the current poem, does this seem to mean humans dominating and subordinating nature, or trying to respect its otherness?
Our perspectives on the poem were very different but yours is very interesting. I like your idea of comparing the rainbow of the story to the Bible because I didn't see it as her being religious, but now that you brought up the point I do see where it is coming from.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the feeling of struggle and desperation that you mention. She might have gone fishing before, but perhaps she never gave importance to conditions a fish goes through when let out of the water? Perhaps the rainbow was a form of enlightenment for her? It also refers to the oil spilling in the water. I also see the religious undertones; the characteristics and similarities to humans gave her a feeling of guilt, she put herself in the fish's shoes I suppose
ReplyDeleteI think the author goes fishing quite often actually. He is the type of person to notice the smaller things in life and to bring out their beauty. The author saw this one fish and turned it into something deep that can get ones mind thinking
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