Meetings Elizabeth Woody - Meaning of poem

 

Line-by-Line Meaning

1. "Twice on other travels a wolf stood on the periphery of lamplight."

   • This suggests brief, fleeting encounters with something wild, mysterious, or primal. The wolf remains just out of reach, symbolizing the untamed forces of nature or intuition that linger at the edge of human awareness.

2. "Our eyes intensified in the silent distance between sanctity."

   • The “silent distance” suggests a reverent, almost sacred moment of recognition or connection with the wolf. It reflects a heightened awareness, a spiritual or emotional intensity arising from the encounter.

3. "There is one who appreciates second hand revelations of wolves."

   • Some understand the essence of wolves not through direct experience but through stories, observations, or interpretations. It hints at the mediated ways people connect to nature or wisdom.

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4. "Sparrow hawk waves fast hinges of small capture in its apex of watch."

   • The sparrow hawk, a swift predator, symbolizes focus and precision. The "fast hinges" may describe its quick movements during a hunt, reflecting sharp, decisive actions.

5. "Where are the absent coyotes of Willamina?"

   • This line hints at a missing element of balance or presence in the ecosystem of Willamina, possibly representing disruption or absence of natural rhythms.

6. "Winter-sleepy mice are slow."

   • This evokes the lethargy of winter, where even prey like mice, often quick and alert, are subdued by the cold. It symbolizes the slowing down of life during harsh times.

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7. "The salmon pass the fishers’ drift into deadline."

   • Salmon, driven by instinct, swim past fishing nets and towards their destined spawning grounds, described as a “deadline.” It captures the tension between survival and inevitable mortality.

8. "The count is a button pushed in the rapture of instinctual homing."

   • This refers to the tracking or counting of salmon during their migration, emphasizing their relentless drive to return home, guided by instinct rather than reason.

9. "An eye squint records the shrapnel glimpses of Chinook."

   • Observers catch fragmented, fleeting views of Chinook salmon as they move quickly, like shrapnel, through the water. The imagery suggests a mix of awe and transience.

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10. "Our river’s low, as manly winds blur the edges of inland clouds."

    • The river’s low level may symbolize scarcity or decline, while "manly winds" suggests strength and force that disrupts the soft, ephemeral clouds.

11. "Aspiring rain is a sleepy feminine whisper."

    • Rain is personified as feminine and gentle, contrasting with the masculine winds, creating a balance of force and nurture in nature’s interplay.

12. "Grasses sweep patterns of mock celestial visitations."

    • The swaying of grasses in the wind is likened to imprints of stars or celestial beings, offering a terrestrial mimicry of the heavens.

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13. "Otter pelts feel soothingly moist in the rich depth of velvety pelage."

    • This tactile description emphasizes the luxurious, primal connection to the otter’s fur, symbolizing richness and life’s abundance.

14. "Small bare edged ears are symbolic of ocean’s chill."

    • The otter’s small ears suggest adaptation to the harsh cold of its oceanic habitat, reflecting resilience in the face of natural challenges.

15. "One secret otter strip is owned for future weaving."

    • This suggests preserving something valuable (perhaps cultural or symbolic) for future use, weaving it into a greater narrative or purpose.

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16. "Otter woven into a Ravenstail robe is royal and tide riddled."

    • The Ravenstail robe, a traditional weaving style, incorporates otter fur, symbolizing heritage, royalty, and connection to the sea’s ebb and flow.

17. "The otter dances on prominent lineage hidden through survival."

    • The otter embodies a legacy of survival, its story interwoven with natural and cultural continuity.

18. "Copper light resumes ceremony from absence to embrace our shoulders."

    • The copper light (possibly sunrise or sunset) symbolizes renewal and reconnection, embracing the observer in a ceremonial return to balance or tradition.

Overall Themes

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• Nature's Rhythms: The passage deeply reflects the cycles of nature, survival, and instinct.
• Human Connection: It captures the reverence humans feel for natural elements, even as they are distanced from them.
• Cultural Legacy: The mention of weaving and ceremonies hints at cultural practices rooted in nature, preserving stories and identity.

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Twice on other travels a wolf stood on the periphery of lamplight.
Our eyes intensified in the silent distance between sanctity.
There is one who appreciates second hand revelations of wolves.

Sparrow hawk waves fast hinges of small capture in its apex of watch.
Where are the absent coyotes of Willamina?
Winter-sleepy mice are slow.

The salmon pass the fishers’ drift into deadline.
The count is a button pushed in the rapture of instinctual homing.
An eye squint records the shrapnel glimpses of Chinook.

Our river’s low, as manly winds blur the edges of inland clouds.
Aspiring rain is a sleepy feminine whisper.
Grasses sweep patterns of mock celestial visitations.

Otter pelts feel soothingly moist in the rich depth of velvety pelage
Small bare edged ears are symbolic of ocean’s chill.
One secret otter strip is owned for future weaving.

Otter woven into a Ravenstail robe is royal and tide riddled.
The otter dances on prominent lineage hidden through survival.
Copper light resumes ceremony from absence to embrace our shoulders.