Anaphora by Elizabeth Bishop Summary

Anaphora, a poem by Elizabeth Bishop, reflects on the passing of time, specifically the daily cycle from sunrise to night. The poem emphasizes how each day begins with much enthusiasm and ritual, but ends in tiredness and darkness. Bishop use strong imagery and repetition to underscore the cycle’s repetitive nature and the impact it has on both nature and humans.

The poem begins by explaining how each day begins with a great exhibition. Birds chirp, bells ring, and industrial whistles blow, signaling the start of another morning. The sky is characterized as “white-gold,” conveying a sense of brightness and freshness associated with dawn.

The walls reflect this light, making the environment appear full of possibilities. This moment of dawn seems so big that the speaker wonders where all of this energy comes from and who the day is intended for. There is a sense of expectation that something higher than human existence will experience this beauty.

However, reality rapidly settles in as the day becomes “earthly in nature.” The sun, which may represent promise and regeneration, is quickly overwhelmed by the weight of human existence. Bishop characterizes this as becoming a “victim of long intrigue,” which means that the day is already weighed down by memories, duties, and exhaustion. The use of phrases like “instantly” and “mortal” shows how swiftly the exhilaration of the morning fades into the difficulties of daily existence.

As the poem progresses, it describes the gradual transition from morning to evening. The brightness of the morning begins to dim, and the sun “darkens” and “condenses all his light.” This suggests that as the day goes on, its energy is used up. People dream of possibilities in the morning, but by the end of the day, these dreams often feel wasted or unfulfilled. The sun, which began as a powerful force, is now subjected to human demands—it provides light, warmth, and guidance.

Bishop then changes the attention to the individuals that are caught in this loop. The star that shines “sinks through the drift of bodies” while it “sinks through the drift of classes.” This might imply that people from all walks of life—rich and poor, strong and powerless—are equally influenced by time. No matter who you are, the day will come to an end. The poem depicts life as a never-ending cycle that leaves individuals fatigued and depleted.

Finally, the poem concludes with the picture of a beggar in the park, which represents the final exhaustion that comes with the conclusion of the day. Compared to the bright, optimistic morning, the evening is quiet and introspective. The beggar sits in the darkness, without a lamp or a book, but is preparing “stupendous studies.”

This expression implies that, even amid tiredness, there is something deep about the act of completing a day. The “fiery event” of the sunset marks not just the end of the day, but the unavoidable repeating of this cycle. The expression “endless assent” indicates that this procedure is repeated on a daily basis.

Overall, Bishop’s poem expresses the contrast between morning vitality and nighttime lethargy. It delves on issues like as time, habit, and how life marches on regardless of how hard we work each day. The poem’s use of repetition, particularly lines such as “instantly, instantly” and “endless, endless,” strengthens the sense that this cycle is unavoidable. Bishop’s evocative imagery allows readers to perceive the beauty and hardship in the passage of time, making Anaphora a highly contemplative essay about the nature of everyday existence.

Anaphora by Elizabeth Bishop Analysis

Elizabeth Bishop’s use of anaphora (the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines) is significant in reinforcing the theme of routine and repetition. The title itself, Anaphora, draws attention to this poetic device. By repeating certain words and phrases, Bishop mimics the predictable cycle of the day, creating a sense of inevitability.

One of the main themes in the poem is the contrast between morning and evening. Morning is filled with light, sound, and excitement, while evening is quiet, dark, and reflective. This contrast highlights the way time affects both the natural world and human life. At the start of the day, everything feels fresh and full of possibilities, but as the hours pass, fatigue and reality set in. This pattern reflects the broader human experience of hope, effort, and eventual exhaustion.

Another important theme is the connection between the sun and human life. Bishop personifies the sun, describing it as if it were a living being that “suffers our uses and abuses.” This suggests that just as people are drained by the demands of daily life, the sun, too, is worn down by its role in illuminating the world. The reference to the sun as a “victim of long intrigue” implies that it is caught in an endless cycle, much like people who wake up each morning only to go through the same routines again.

The social commentary in the poem is subtle but powerful. By mentioning the “drift of classes,” Bishop hints at the idea that, regardless of social status, everyone is affected by the passage of time. The image of the beggar at the end of the poem serves as a reminder that while some may end their day in comfort, others are left in darkness, literally and figuratively. This could be interpreted as a critique of societal inequality, showing how time wears down all people, but some suffer more than others.

The tone of the poem is both lyrical and melancholic. The beauty of morning is described with admiration, but there is also a sense of inevitability in the way the day progresses. The repetition of words like “instantly” and “endless” contributes to the feeling that this cycle is inescapable. The final lines, which describe the beggar’s silent contemplation, leave the reader with a sense of quiet resignation, acknowledging the ongoing rhythm of life.

Anaphora by Elizabeth Bishop Line-by-Line Explanation

“Each day with so much ceremony / begins, with birds, with bells, / with whistles from a factory;”

The poem starts by emphasizing how every new day begins with a sense of ritual and routine. The words “ceremony” and “begins” suggest a formal, almost sacred start to the day. The mention of “birds,” “bells,” and “whistles from a factory” represents different elements of daily life—nature waking up, religious or community signals (bells), and the industrial world (factory whistles). These sounds mark the beginning of another cycle.

“Such white-gold skies our eyes / first open on, such brilliant walls / that for a moment we wonder”

The morning is described as visually stunning, with “white-gold skies” symbolizing the purity and brightness of dawn. The “brilliant walls” may refer to sunlight reflecting on buildings, enhancing the beauty of the moment. This dazzling scene momentarily makes people pause and reflect.

“Where is the music coming from, the energy? / The day was meant for what ineffable creature / we must have missed?”

The speaker wonders about the source of this vibrant start to the day. The phrase “Where is the music coming from?” suggests that the morning’s beauty and liveliness feel almost magical. The use of “ineffable creature” (something too great to be described in words) implies a sense of awe, as if the day were created for something divine or extraordinary that humans fail to recognize.

“Oh promptly he / appears and takes his earthly nature / instantly, instantly falls”

The mysterious presence is revealed to be the sun, which “takes his earthly nature”—meaning it transforms into something ordinary, part of the physical world. The repetition of “instantly” emphasizes how quickly the magic of the morning turns into something mundane and familiar.

“Victim of long intrigue, / assuming memory and mortal / mortal fatigue.”

The sun, which initially seemed full of energy, is now weighed down by the burdens of existence. The phrase “victim of long intrigue” suggests that the day (or the sun) is caught up in a complex web of human activity, responsibilities, and struggles. The repetition of “mortal” emphasizes the idea of exhaustion, as if even the sun experiences weariness like a human.

“More slowly falling into sight / and showering into stippled faces, / darkening, condensing all his light;”

As the day progresses, the sun’s movement slows, and its brightness fades. The phrase “showering into stippled faces” could refer to sunlight filtering through the atmosphere, casting dappled shadows on people’s faces. “Darkening, condensing all his light” signifies the gradual loss of daylight as evening approaches.

“In spite of all the dreaming / squandered upon him with that look, / suffers our uses and abuses,”

This line suggests that people project their dreams and hopes onto the day, but those dreams are often wasted or unfulfilled. Despite this, the day (or the sun) continues to serve humanity by providing light and warmth. The phrase “suffers our uses and abuses” implies that people take daylight for granted, using it up without truly appreciating it.

“Sinks through the drift of bodies, / sinks through the drift of classes”

Here, the sun is described as descending, moving through crowds of people. “Drift of bodies” suggests a sea of human movement—perhaps workers going about their day. “Drift of classes” highlights the social divisions within society, but ultimately, the sun sets on everyone equally, regardless of status or wealth.

“To evening to the beggar in the park / who, weary, without lamp or book”

As night falls, the focus shifts to a beggar in a park, representing those who are often overlooked. The beggar, unlike others who may have the comfort of artificial light or entertainment (a lamp or book), is left in darkness, both literally and metaphorically. His presence underscores themes of fatigue and survival at the end of the day.

“Prepares stupendous studies: / the fiery event / of every day in endless / endless assent.”

Despite his difficult circumstances, the beggar is described as preparing “stupendous studies.” This phrase suggests deep reflection or contemplation. The “fiery event” refers to the sunset, an awe-inspiring moment that happens daily. The repetition of “endless” reinforces the idea that this cycle repeats continuously—each day rising, shining, and setting, without change.