Edward James Hughes was born on 17 August 1930 in Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire and died in 1998. He was a poet, short story writer, dramatist, and critic. Hughes was married to the American poet Sylvia Plat and blamed after she committed suicide in 1963. He has been described as one of the twentieth century's greatest English poets.
"Old Age Gets Up"
Stirs its ashes and embers, its burnt sticks
An eye powdered over, half melted and solid again
Ponders
Ideas that collapse
At the first touch of attention
The light at the window, so square and so same
So full-strong as ever, the window frame
A scaffold in space, for eyes to lean on
Supporting the body, shaped to its old work
Making small movements in gray air
Numbed from the blurred accident
Of having lived, the fatal, real injury
Under the amnesia
Something tries to save itself-searches
For defenses-but words evade
Like flies with their own notions
Old age slowly gets dressed
Heavily dosed with death's night
Sits on the bed's edge
Pulls its pieces together
Loosely tucks in its shirt
Analysis of "Old Age Gets Up"
Through "Old Age Gets Up," Ted Hughes reaches out to his older audience. Many people are frightened at the thought of getting old because it means they are closer to death; it is a known fact that no one lives forever. Even though the poem does not exhibit many positives about the aging process, the ending reveals the inspiration. Hughes encourages his audience not to fear old age. Instead, he wants them to enjoy their life while they still can.
this is a terrible poem. I cant believe the guy was famous
ReplyDeleteOh, it ain't that bad! Not one of his best, I'll grant you that. I'm amused by lines like this: "words evade/Like flies with their own notions" and ending with the frustrations of getting dressed is a universal experience at any age. Not having anywhere to go is suggested by the shirt being "loosely" tucked in. Keep in mind that he was also married to Sylvia Plath. He earned his right to complain about old age.
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