Stanley Kuhta's Poem 'I Dreamed That I Was Old'
Almost every parent at one time or another would have likely told their children about why they should value their days of youthfulness; unshackled by responsibility and stress. One must savour each laugh and prolong each smile because the sun will never shine higher than in days of youthfulness. But why do they say so? What is the reasoning behind their warning? With years of experience under their belt, parents are conveying a message not much different than that found in the poem “I Dreamed That I was Old” by Stanley Kunitz which takes square aim at the idea that, life is a priceless gift, so appreciate every moment of it. Kunitz breaks this down by touching on the cusp of an individual’s life, the idea of appreciation, and the realization
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wording: you mean death is inevitable?) Nobody decides to live or die, yet everyone is born and after some time, everyone dies. Having no control over these events can come to articulate the pricelessness of life. But life is also in itself encircled by time. There must be an apex in this time frame of life. Kunitz attributes this peak to the days of youthfulness. The speaker begins his (self-conscious)<--actually it’s ok but i would still use a diff. word journey by coming to terms with the present. Reminded that his bones have begun to ache and his body is in a condition of, “stale declension” (line 1 Kunitz). Then drifting off, the speaker recalls the days when, “company was mine, cat nimbleness, and green invention” (line 3 Kunitz). Thinking back to the days when the speaker had good health and was able jump and run about like a cat. The freedom of movement in most instances associated with youthfulness is being remembered by the speaker. As well, being in the “company” (line 2 Kunitz) of his friends and family with whom the speaker used to spend precious time with. The speaker then dwindles off on the note that companionship and strength will surrender to the bonds of time as his “leafy hours” (line 4 Kunitz) have fallen off the tree of his life and now is in a state of
wording: you mean death is inevitable?) Nobody decides to live or die, yet everyone is born and after some time, everyone dies. Having no control over these events can come to articulate the pricelessness of life. But life is also in itself encircled by time. There must be an apex in this time frame of life. Kunitz attributes this peak to the days of youthfulness. The speaker begins his (self-conscious)<--actually it’s ok but i would still use a diff. word journey by coming to terms with the present. Reminded that his bones have begun to ache and his body is in a condition of, “stale declension” (line 1 Kunitz). Then drifting off, the speaker recalls the days when, “company was mine, cat nimbleness, and green invention” (line 3 Kunitz). Thinking back to the days when the speaker had good health and was able jump and run about like a cat. The freedom of movement in most instances associated with youthfulness is being remembered by the speaker. As well, being in the “company” (line 2 Kunitz) of his friends and family with whom the speaker used to spend precious time with. The speaker then dwindles off on the note that companionship and strength will surrender to the bonds of time as his “leafy hours” (line 4 Kunitz) have fallen off the tree of his life and now is in a state of