O biblic birds, who fluttered to me in my childhood illnesses
— me little, afraid, ill, not of your race, —
the cool wing for my fever, the hovering solace,
the sense of angels—
be thanked, O plumage of paradise, be praised.
This poem talks about the Sisters who took care of the poet during his childhood illness. He, as a child was sick and afraid and the Sisters provided solace for him. He compared them to biblical birds and angels to show their purity and kindness. He is thankful to them for saving and comforting him.
My father bequeathed me no wide estates;
No keys and ledgers were my heritage;
Only some holy books with yahrzeit dates
Writ mournfully upon a blank front page —
Books of the Baal Shem Tov, and of his wonders;
Pamphlets upon the devil and his crew;
Prayers against road demons, witches, thunders;
And sundry other tomes for a good Jew.
These lines from the poem "Heirloom" are about how the poet's father did not leave him any money or land as his legacy but instead left him something far superior. He left him religious and precious books that taught him prayers and learnings. These books taught him to be a good Jew and the person he is today.
And yet the doubt is hither-thither cast--
Will the last kiss I gave her be the last?
In this poem, the poet talks about the doubt that has been cast over his relationship. It is in such doubt and jeopardy that poet wonders if each kiss with his love be the last one.
and in its peace the pensive mother knits
contentment to be worn by her family
grown-up, but still cradled by the chair in which she sits.
The chair represents family life in Quebec. The children of the mother become the next generation of Quebec, while the chair keeps nourishing them. This stands for the connection of family and province.
and symbol, symbol of this static folk
which moves in segments, and returns to base, -
a sunken pendulum invoke, revoke;
loosed yon, leashed hither, motion on no space
This excerpt represents the movement of the chair that stands for the process of growing up and being away from home, then returning to base again. Several generations grow up, rise, and then fall, just to start the cycle all over again. The chair is the force of life.
