Question

The seen, the known
dissolve in iridescence, become
illusive flesh of light
that was not, was, forever is.

O light beheld as through refracting tears.
Here is the aura of that world
each of us has lost.
Here is the shadow of its joy.

–“Monet’s ‘Waterlilies,’”
Robert Hayden

How does the underlined simile add meaning to the poem?

It explains why Monet painted this scene.
It creates imagery that appeals to hearing.
It describes the use of light in the painting.
It connects back to a historical event.

Answer 1

It describes the use of light in the painting.

The simile “beheld as through refracting tears” compares the light to something seen through tears, emphasizing a shimmering, diffused, iridescent quality—a visual effect that deepens the poem’s mood of loss and nostalgia.