Jul 20, 2023 15:11
1 yr ago
41 viewers *
English term

riches

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature poem by Louise Glück
Dear colleagues,
I’m not sure about the meaning of the word “riches” in the following poem by Louise Glück. It’s right at the end of the poem.
In one of my dictionaries, “riches” appears also with the meaning of "natural riches": might this be a possible meaning in this case (riches of nature where “nature” would be the world around us).
Thank you so much for your help!

*********

AUBADE
The world was very large. Then
the world was small. O
very small, small enough
to fit in a brain.
It had no color, it was all
interior space: nothing
got in or out. But time
seeped in anyway, that
was the tragic dimension.
I took time very seriously in those years,
if I remember accurately.
A room with a chair, a window.
A small window, filled with the patterns light makes.
In its emptiness the world
was whole always, not
a chip of something, with
the self at the center.
And at the center of the self,
grief I thought I couldn’t survive.
A room with a bed, a table. Flashes
of light on the naked surfaces.
I had two desires: desire
to be safe and desire to feel. As though
the world were making
a decision against white
because it disdained potential
and wanted in its place substance:
panels
of gold where the light struck.
In the window, reddish
leaves of the copper beech tree.
Out of the stasis, facts, objects
blurred or knitted together: somewhere
time stirring, time
crying to be touched, to be
palpable,
the polished wood
shimmering with distinctions–
*** and then I was once more
a child in the presence of riches
and I didn’t know what the riches were made of. ***
*******************************

Discussion

haribert (asker) Jul 24, 2023:
Dear Yvonne, thank you so much for your opinion! maybe you can post an answer...
Have a nice evening!
Yvonne Gallagher Jul 24, 2023:
@Haribert "wonders" is a good word to use here for a child's world. It gives the sense of wonder they have as a sunbeam turns something into gold, or a feeling they get. Impalpable. "facts, objects
blurred or knitted together" "I didn’t know what the riches were made of"
haribert (asker) Jul 21, 2023:
Dear colleagues, what about "wonders"? Thank you so much for your help!
Yvonne Gallagher Jul 21, 2023:
@ Helena Agree fully
A child doesn't know that the gold of the sun shining on objects and rich red leaves are worth nothing in material wealth. Post an answer
haribert (asker) Jul 20, 2023:
Dear Helena, thank you so much for your contribution! I agree with you that it doesn't necessarily refer to money or alike.
Helena Chavarria Jul 20, 2023:
My interpretation Riches don't necessarily refer to items of monetary value. In this case, the riches are 'panels of gold where the light struck', 'reddish leaves of the copper beech tree', 'time crying to be touched' and 'the polished wood shimmering with distinctions'.
haribert (asker) Jul 20, 2023:
Dear Ice Scream, thank you for your help!
Chris Says Bye Jul 20, 2023:
Could be riches of any kind. It’s not specified.

Responses

+2
1 hr
Selected

treasures

:) Things that a child loves
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Clauwolf, for your "precious" suggestion!
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
1 hr
thanks
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : Very vague. You didn't deal with the context at all? Anyone, young or old can love treasures
16 hrs
it's my understanding, tks
agree Anastasia Kalantzi
6 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you so much, Clauwolf, for your contribution! Many many thanks also to all other colleagues for their interesting suggestions! I'm also thinking about choosing "wonders" as a possibile synonym..."
6 mins

material wealth

I interpret "riches" as material wealth. This idea is reinforced by the imagery of "polished wood shimmering with distinctions". It gave me an idea of a wealthy/classy place.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Chris Says Bye : My instinct is the opposite, but we just don’t know.
1 hr
neutral Tony M : I don't agree: I think here it is figurative wealth, as we are seeing these things through the eyes of a child, possible unable to be impressed by the abstract notion of "material wealth", but thrilled by simple, maghical things that to them are 'riches'.
4 hrs
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : Agree with Tony
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

Spiritual or material wealth

Ultimately, the meaning of the word "riches" in the poem is up to the individual reader to decide. However, the poem suggests that there are many different kinds of riches in the world, both natural and inner. These riches can be found in the beauty of nature, in the love of family and friends, and in the simple act of being alive.
Note from asker:
Dear Filimoi Worku, thank you so much for your interesting contribution!
Peer comment(s):

neutral Yvonne Gallagher : Deal with context? Over-extrapolation
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search