Structure
What does the poem's free verse form symbolize?
spontaneity and emotional freedom
How does the speaker characterize the ponies?
Gentle and welcoming
What form of imagery is used to display the connection between the speaker and the ponies?
tactile imagery
What is the most prominent figurative language used throughout the poem? (Be broad)
Imagery
What could the poem's title mean?
The unexpected beauty of living in the present
How many stanzas are in "A Blessing"
1
What does the use of simple diction throughout the poem symbolize?
Natural beauty and raw emotion
The tactile image of touching the pony’s ear functions as a symbol of this
intimacy and mutual trust
The 2 types in "That if I stepped out of my body I would break Into blossom"
hyperbole and metaphor
The poem emphasizes that transcendence is not found in grand things hut rather in what?
The simplicity of life
As the poem progresses the shift between stanzas reflects what?
Emotional and spiritual transformation
What does the use of an ordinary setting symbolize?
Realism and the desire to be authentic
Why does the author use so much imagery specifically in terms of "A Blessing"
To break physical barriers and display emotional and physical connections and awakenings.
What type "They love each other. There is no loneliness like theirs"
Personification
The theme of emotional release is most evident in this moment
The last line's metaphor
What does the fragmented final line of the poem symbolize?
A sudden, overwhelming feeling of emotion
How does the speaker characterize him and his friend during the encounter with the ponies?
Curious and comfortable
The act of stepping over the fence becomes a metaphorical image for this
Crossing into spiritual and emotional openness
What symbol do the ponies serve?
An opportunity for the speaker to explore his emotional and spiritual state of being.
What spiritual outlook does the speaker have on life?
That transcendence is found in connection with the beauty and simplicity of nature.
What does the poem's single, uninterrupted flow of thought and lack of traditional stanza breaks mimic?
The speaker's visible spiritual awakening
What could the word blossom mean at the end of the poem?
It symbolizes his full spiritual and emotional transformation
What does the visual image at the end of the poem point to?
The escape of his spiritual and emotional boundaries.
What does the metaphor at the end of the poem symbolize?
The tearing of boundaries and the speaker's emotional and spiritual awakening
The theme of connection is highlighted by the contrast between what 2 states
Isolation and contact