Amends.Adrienne Rich

Background

Was born on May 16, 1929. Died on March 27, 2012

Was an American Poet, essayist and feminist

Was called one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of 20th century

Wrote about women’s role in society

Poem

Nights like this: on the cold apple-bougha white star, then anotherexploding out of the bark:on the ground, moonlight picking at small stones

as it picks at greater stones as it rises with the surf laying its cheek for moments on the sandas it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs, as it flicks across the tracks

as it unavailing pours into gashof the sand-and-gravel quarryas it leans across the hangared fuselage of the crop dusting plane

as it soaks through cracks into trailers tremulous wit sleepas it dwells upon the eyelids of sleepers as if to make amends.

Themes

Amends; to atone – “as if to make amends”

Nature – moon, stones, surf, cliffs, quarry

The Night; the moon

Calm, healing – everything is asleep, “trailers tremulous with sleep”

Literary Devices

Repetition; the use of “As it” and “As if”

Personification; the moon is doing things

Repetition

“as it” , gives the poem movement, and its constant repetition makes it appear that the moon is in a flurry of activity during the still night.

“as if” , concludes the poem. It shows the purpose of its activity: to make amends.

However, it is hesitant, because “as if” is not a definite term.

Hesitance, perhaps caused by man destruction of nature?

Or amends to convince man against destruction?

Personification

The moon is personified throughout the poem as it is trying to make amends for human

The poet gives the moon emotions and human features

The moon has a feminine characteristic as the poet was an feminist.

“laying its cheek”, the moon is a loving person, who gives comfort to the sand.

Personification

“laying its cheek”, the moon is seen as a loving person, who gives the comfort of touch to the sand it lights up.

“licks, flows, flicks”, these movements are transient giving the effect that the moon is tripping around briefly as it finds its way to the sleepers which is the mission.

“pours into the gash of the sand-and-gravel quarry”, the quarry is personified as one who has suffered a wound and is hurting. The effect of “pours” is to express the copious amount of moonlight which heals the pit that has been dug.

Personification

“as it soaks through cracks into the trailers”, ‘soaks’ means to to absorb. The effect here is of the moon filling up the cracks as if it is determined to fill up every aperture to reach the sleeping persons because it wants to make amends.

“tremulous with sleep”, the effect is to give create a close-up of the sleepers whose flickering eyelids are tremulous. Perhaps they are dreaming.

“dwells upon the eyelids”, ‘dwells’ is word that gives the effect of staying on for a long time. It’s comforting and reassuring to think that the moonlight lingers like a protector on the sleepers

Personification

“as if to make amends”, as a final line in an extended personification of the moon it clinches the intention of the poet and brings the poem to a level beyond description of moonlight. The effect is to see the moon as a representative of nature and to see that it heals and nourishes those persons who work with nature and hence makes amends for their tireless toil.

Links with other poems

About nature.

Full Moon & Little Frieda; The Moon is personified – “The moon has stepped back……”

Time; where time is also personified, similar to the way the moon is, with repetitions – “I am the……” as compared to Amends’ “As it……”