The poem begins with the image of a turtle, a slow-moving creature that seems to embody the patient, deliberate nature of poetic creation. The turtle's shell, "carved and fretted," suggests the intricate craftsmanship that goes into the writing of a poem. The speaker notes that the turtle's shell is "too heavy for its own good," implying that the weight of poetic expression can sometimes be burdensome or overwhelming.
Ryan then draws a parallel between the turtle's struggle to move forward and the poet's struggle to find the right words and images to convey their thoughts and feelings. The lines "it won't hurry; it will arrive" suggest that the process of writing poetry requires patience and persistence, and that the end result is worth the effort.
As the poem progresses, Ryan shifts her focus to the transformative power of poetry. She writes, "When it lifts its head and cries out, / a poem is born," implying that poetry emerges from a moment of intense emotion or inspiration. The poem itself becomes a living creature, with its own voice and its own story to tell.
In the final lines, Ryan emphasizes the enduring nature of poetry. She writes, "A poem is a house / it stands and resists," suggesting that poetry has the power to withstand the test of time and to continue to resonate with readers long after it was written.
Overall, "Poetry" by Kay Ryan is a celebration of the art and craft of poetry, and a reflection on the transformative power of language and expression.