“Striped in ebony and gold…’’. The use of sophisticated and exclusive adjectives which are (‘ebony’ and ‘gold’) to illustrate the wasp’s appearance shows how fascinated and beguiled Rosenberg is by the wasps.
This line contributes to the memorability of the poem. This is through the adoption of classy words to leave the words echoing in our minds and it is savoured and relished by the reader.
Line 3-5 describes the state in which the wasps are in and how they went about their preparation of their home. Here, we assume that the two wasps are of the opposite sex thus, probably married or are living their lives together. Therefore, another rational assumption is that these two wasps are building a home, an investment that they can share together and reside within.
These lines are made memorable because they unfailingly apply and relate to our daily lives.
Line 7-9 depicts how worthless and valueless this ‘’huge’’ investment is to Rosenberg or the persona and then again, I find these lines ringing in my head because it is indeed an example of life’s bad sides- when one takes their time to put something together and he worships it with every fibre of his being but before others, it is insignificant.
Line 10-14, is about how the persona has endeavored and made an attempt to exonerate and get rid of the wasps. He states that even the efforts and attempts made by the postmen to get rid of the wasps proved futile and ineffectual. One theme obviously brought out here is the theme of privacy. The concern meted out here though is of probable invasion of privacy. It is apparent that the persona (Rosenberg) feels that his rights are being infringed. Here, Rosenberg’s verbal communication along with words portrays this observation through descriptive elements.
These lines are very memorable because as teenagers and adolescents undergoing puberty, we feel as if we deserve the right to freedom and at this age are very rebellious. We therefore defy every rule set out for us and here, we can be compared to the wasps that are going out of their way to feel comfortable in someone’s territory.
Lines 15-20 permits us to perceive that the wasps are probably aware of his strength, capabilities and potencies since it is believed that size and strength are blood brothers and therefore go hand in hand. He further knows deems that the wasps know that with one strike, their lifelong investments can be crushed and destroyed. The persona makes it clear that he and the wasps are not acquainted in any way except the sharing of HIS mailbox.
These thoughts obtained from the lines are reverberated in my head because I find it quite funny yet sad that one strike can demolish and bulldoze someone’s lifelong investments and reserves and this aids in the memorability of the poem.
Lines 21-23 depict some nonchalance, detachment and impassiveness on the part of the wasps and later, some spirits of hard work fill them. This makes the poem memorable in through the drastic change from lethargy to hard work.
“Perhaps they sense I’ll never deal the blow…”.In this line, the persona (Rosenberg) assumes that the wasps neglect and throw away his attempts to get rid of them because they believe he will never be able to pluck the courage to do so.
This line makes the poem memorable because it is his explanation and the explanation is needed for the further scrutiny of the poem and in the quest to derive themes and concerns.
‘’… for, though, not in or of them, still I think I know what it is like to live in an alien and gigantic universe….” The persona (Rosenberg) now gives the rationale and motive behind their stay explaining that he knows how it feels to be isolated, secluded and alienated from the social world or from those who you care about. He also explains that he knows how it feels to be unwanted and insignificant and irrelevant. He knows all this probably and most likely through experience and therefore knows how it feels to be lonely and try to demand freedom and rights.
This part of the poem is very touching, moving and emotive and this makes the poem memorable. It is also made memorable
“…building fragile citadels of love on the edge of danger’’. This means that their stronghold which seems and appears so strong, mighty and firm to support them throughout their life is like a weak foundation to the persona. The language of the persona use here is very descriptive and enables a vivid illustration to be conceived. A theme derived from this line is the theme of belief. Belief is having faith, credence and confidence that something exists or is how it is without necessarily having any proof or any form of back-up. Here, the wasps strongly believe in their supposed strong and lifelong investment whiles the persona believes and knows that one mere and measly strike can cause their objects of worship to crumble down and deteriorate. Building things you care about relish and cherish on an unknown boundary of danger is unwise and unadvisable because the energy and input used in making this grand ‘citadel’ will fall down and crumble to the ground and shatter completely.
This portion of the poem is memorable because such things happen in life and is in short known as living according to your belief or your instincts. This part often
comes back to me because it is one theme that is habitually and repeatedly being debated upon.
The hidden meaning of this poem is probably a life story of the persona (Rosenberg) expresses his issues and concerns through the writing of the poem. The persona quite apparently went on a quest to find happiness or a lifelong partner to share joy, happiness and pain with but failed and ended up being alone, single and unhappy trying to fight for his rights and happiness.
Overall, the poem was very memorable and had many strikingly memorable elements but the one that struck me the most is the fact that the wasps were building something they believed was substantial and long-lasting but turned out to be the direct opposite in the eyes of another.
