Descending Theology: the Resurrection

Descending Theology: The Resurrection The way poets use poetic devices help to create the meaning and hinder our understanding to their poem. Understanding a poem has mush to do with how it is read by the reader. If the poetic devices used by the poet when writing are over looked it is going to cause a much different understanding. “Descending Theology: The Resurrection” by Marry Karr uses many poetic devices to add to the depth of the poem. This poem is set up as a sonnet in closed form, using some open form. It consists of 14 lines with a couplet at the end that changes the flow. This sonnet follows the pattern of number of lines with a couplet but not of rhyme and meter like those of Shakespeare. The couplet brings a new light to what has been presented in the previous twelve lines. Having this at the end of “Descending Theology: The Resurrection” expresses a change in feeling; it turns the poem from sorrow to joy. It expresses that although he may be gone the spirit is going to deeply fill your body in all ways. This shows a big change to the poem because it is no longer talking the loss of this body, and the pain but the bringing back of life into something else. This form works well for “Descending Theology: The Resurrection” because it really helps to see the changing point. Karr writes this poem in a higher level of diction. The words she uses describe in a much deeper meaning. The chosen words also give strong images such as ‘the hung flesh was empty’ (3) and ‘the human stare buried in his face’ (6). They are words that make the reader stop and really think of what it is describing and isn’t just giving it all away. Karr also uses some metaphors in describing: ‘his splintered feet’ (5), ‘two hands made of meat’ (7), and ‘the stone fist of his heart’ (9-10). These help give a stronger meaning and image to what his feet were like and what his hands were and how through this pain his heart is solid and pounding. Metering and cesuras help give emphasis to each line. Not all pauses in the poem are indicated by punctuation but the words chosen throughout the poem define the breaking points. It separates the depth of each line so that it can really be absorbed. The pause also helps give time to the reader time to understand what they have read. Karr also usees correct punctuation in end-stops. Each idea is separated with ending each one with a punctuation mark and then starting a new idea. His body in “Descending Theology: The Resurrection” is being stripped of everything until ‘the hung flesh was empty’ (3). He is now so empty that this pain doesn’t even amount to anything and he would rather have some feeling; ‘his splintered feet’ (4). No pain can never be strong enough to take away the pain and leave us so empty because ‘our limbs’ (13) are always going to be filled. This poem, “Descending Theology: The Resurrection” explains how our sufferings can never be as painful as his and he is always going to fill our body’s. It is mostly derived from the couplet at the end of the sonnet. If this poem was written in an open form or broken into smaller stanzas there wouldn’t be as clear of a point. Also if Karr wrote in a simpler diction the meaning would not be as strong or as vivid. This poem used poetic devices in s certain purpose to help the reader see the hidden meaning.

Work Cited
Karr, Mary. “Descending Theology: The Ressurection.” Poetry. 2006.

Cited: Karr, Mary. “Descending Theology: The Ressurection.” Poetry. 2006.