The meaning of the poem is very clear. For whatever eternal question of spirit or meaning in life or the glories of nature, look to yourself. It's there.
To look at the night sky and wonder in awe, it is yourself who feels that awe. The next person feels it also, but for himself or herself. The wonder is within ourselves.
The literary devices? I'd have to re-read Lionel Trilling to get it all. The central device is that what seems outside ourselves is really within ourselves, and it's repeated in every stanza.
"I am a sky where spirits live/stare into this deepening blue/while the breeze says a secret. Like this."
Who can hear that secret? Each is an extended metaphor for looking to yourself to find the secret or the love or the desire or, even, how tall you are.
Even "tall" is a metaphor for whom you are.
Does this help?
Can someone please explain this poem to me and also the literary devices used? Thanks!
"Like This"
If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our sexual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,
Like this.
When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,
Like this.
If anyone wants to know what "spirit" is,
or what "God’s fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her.
Keep your face there close.
Like this.
When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.
Like this.
If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don’t try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.
Like this. Like this.
When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.
If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.
This tall.
The soul sometimes leaves the body, the returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.
Like this.
When lovers moan,
they’re telling our story.
Like this.
I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.
Like this.
When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.
Like this.
How did Joseph’s scent come to Jacob?
Huuuuu.
How did Jacob’s sight return?
Huuuu.
A little wind cleans the eyes.
Like this.
When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he’ll put just his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us
Like this.
From ‘The Essential Rumi’, Translations
by Coleman Barks with John Moyne
5 answers
thank you so much, yes it was very helpful :)
I hope so. :)
Sarah, I'm sorry, but "extended" metaphor is the wrong term. The author uses metaphors in each stanza, but each is it's own metaphor. "Extended" would be more like the author used the same one in different terms again and again. Here, the author uses different ones to make the same point over and over to "drive it home."
thanks again :)