The name of the poem is Otherwise, by Jane Kenyon.
What is the meaning of the poem? What kind of figurative language does it use? does use metaphor? stanzas?
Otherwise
I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning I did
the work I love.
At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.
2007-10-17 13:44:29 · 7 answers · asked by Cutie 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Poetry
jane kenyon talks about all the things she enjoys doing (eating cereal, walking her dog). when she says 'it might have been otherwise' she means that we should be thankful for what is good in our lives - not everyone has a life they can enjoy.
at the end when she writes: 'one day, i know,/ it will be otherwise' she means that even people who have happy lives must one day leave them (when they die).
jane kenyon's poem says: 'be happy for what you have in your life. not everyone has such good things in their life as you have. and be happy for what you have in your life. for one day we must all die, and then it will be too late to be happy.'
jane kenyon is your mom.
2007-10-17 23:19:57 · answer #1 · answered by synopsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I'm not really sure about the meaning, but my interpretation is that she is thinking that her life may soon change (for example her mate may leave her) and every poem uses stanzas. I can't really see any metaphors though.
2007-10-17 20:48:13 · answer #2 · answered by Charlie M. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of the poem is that we should be grateful for what we gave. It says at the beginning, 'I got out of bed on two strong legs, it could have been otherwise' She means that she could have been unhealthy or crippled. 'I have cereal, ripe, flawless peach' She has food. She could have been dying of starvation. And so on.
2007-10-17 20:49:09 · answer #3 · answered by Alli_G8tr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a lot of figurative language. Repetition of 'it might have been otherwise'. Yes, she uses stanzas.
2007-10-17 20:48:02 · answer #4 · answered by crimson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's about a day she is thankful for. Also she knows not every day will be as perfect as this one.
2007-10-17 20:47:55 · answer #5 · answered by the Boss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It uses similes metaphors duh uhh...forshadowing.
I think the poem is talking about how her life seems the same but one day it won't be like that anymore.
2007-10-17 20:50:13 · answer #6 · answered by Sammy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your joking right you must know what it means!
2007-10-17 20:49:28 · answer #7 · answered by Techeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋