|
|
Article: Wislawa Szymborska's "The Silence of Plants".(Critical essay)
- Article from:
- Sarmatian Review
- Article date:
- September 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Polish Institute of Houston, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Imponderable. Impenetrable. Not admitting of interpretation. The poem "The Silence of Plants" has the determination of a text that must be spoken rather than read. It conforms to the norms of literacy to the extent that it is written--though translated, and once removed from its language of origin. It is symbolic only in the sense that it is written. "Though the written text may appear to be saying something, it is little better than silence."[1]
This poetic text is replete with personal/possessive pronouns: our - I - my - me - we - us. There is less writing here than speech. "The Silence of Plants" is arranged so that the poet's voice is heard all the more, in a ...