A Visit Comments

Better to watch the stream that flows across the floor and is made of sunlight, the forest made of shadows; better to watch the fireplace which is now a beach. a very fine poem indeed. tony

Better to watch the stream that flows across the floor and is made of sunlight, This stanga is a very gorgeous

What about this poem? What means the last column

Sounds like this poem is about a father or spouse who had a debilitating stroke. He can't use his left hand due to paralysis of that part of his brain where the stroke hit hardest. He seems to have been a Skilled carpenter. Hence all of the parts about tools and building things and types of wood. The Jesu symbol is there too. He was a carpenter also.Biblically speaking hetoo could walk on water. The person Atwood is visiting is bed-ridden and mentaly fading because of the devastating stroke. She appears to have looked at this person at one time as some sort of savior figure. By the way she mentions how person used too walk on water. Daddy's daily miracles for Daddy's little girl. Sad but touching.

at the beginning i thought i understood the poem but later on it gets confusing...

Does anyone know what year she wrote this poem? I am planning on using for an English Assignment. thanks