Thirteen Ways Of Looking At A Blackbird

Limitless variations of reality brought by different perspectives challenge the concept of normality. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird uses imagery pertaining to black birds in order to examine the alternate versions of reality. Scrutinizing the many possible interpretations of ordinary blackbirds challenges the concept of normality. Associating these overlooked creatures with great power, such as being able to move a river, certainly brings a shift of perspective. Furthermore, the acknowledgement of each blackbird’s unique perspective represents variations of reality: “I was of three minds, like a tree in which there are three blackbirds” (II, Stevens). Each of the blackbird’s minds contains different perspectives, therefore different
As a medium, imagery aids in conveying these alternate perceptions of reality. The Disillusionment of Ten O'Clock uses surreal imagery to convey reality appearing in various different forms: “Or purple with green rings, or green with yellow rings, or yellow with blue rings.” (127 Cleghorn). Variations of the traditional white night gown represent different perspectives, which essentially lead to different realities and lifestyles. Nonetheless, control over one's perspective has certain limits. Perceptive is shaped by emotions and memories which are all stored in the subconscious mind. In response to certain situations certain emotions and attitudes are evoked, therefore changing one's perspective. Furthermore, The Plain Sense of Things uses nature imagery to convey one's disconnection from their perspective of reality. “The great pond, the plain sense of it, without reflections, leaves, mud, water like dirty glass, expressing silence,” (Stevens). Feelings of emptiness and disconnection from one's daily life is symbolized through the fallen leaves found in the pond. The fallen leaves in the mud were once alive and a part of a living being, but now are decomposing into the mud. Wasted ideas and potential are perhaps what the leaves symbolize. Imagery of a murky pond is used to symbolize the lack of clarity in one's mind. The murkiness of one's mind gradually leads to the dissonance and
Likewise, philosophical beliefs and attitudes adjust the subconscious. Nihilistic views found in Autumn Refrain emphasize on the theme of stillness and the barren meaning of life. Direct focus on stillness accentuates the meaningless of life: “And the stillness is in the key, all of it is, the stillness is all in the key of that desolate sound” (Stevens). Change is an essential part of life. Life simply cannot exist without change. Favouring stillness is inherently rejecting life and all of its possible meaning. In similar manner, emphasis on stillness is present in The Snow Man when the speaker states that: “One must have a mind of winter” (Stevens) . Having 'a mind of winter' indicates that the mind is frozen and static. Additionally, focusing on the speaker's disconnection from their surroundings reveals detachment of life's meaning, along with reality. Fixation on the emptiness and lack of harmony in one's surroundings reflects on the meaninglessness of life: “For the listener, who listens in the snow, and, nothing himself, beholds nothing that is not there and the nothing that is” (Stevens). Instead of focusing on the harmony amongst nature, the speaker believes that nature contains nothing but emptiness. Rejection of the concept of man being connected to nature signifies the detachment from all life's interpreted