Elizabeth Bishop's poem "View of the Capitol from the Library of Congress" possesses profound imagery and, when it is read, the reader immediately gets transported into the speaker's serene vision. Bishop takes the reader on a journey with her words, and through this journey a speaker is born. The poem itself is separated into stanzas, with five lines followed by two quatrains, and then another five lines followed by one quatrain. The use of enjambment occurs at perfect intervals to allow the reader to feel the rhythm, yet not sound singsong.
[...] In particular, what brings out the awareness that there are emotions behind these words is that the poem itself, although clearly taking place from a view of the Capitol building from the Library of Congress, isn't really about either. Except for the mention of the Air Force band / in uniforms of Air Force blue” which just seems present to give the reader some indication of the setting of the music as well as add to the alliteration and rhythm of the poem, there isn't much mention of anything so, historical. [...]
[...] The title of the poem itself stands out without an article such as or in front of the word This makes the view neither a specific nor a general view, which leaves the reader hanging, but in a good way. It intrigues the reader and makes them want to know more. This shows how with just the absence of a single word an entire interpretation can change. This is the start of the poem and the formation of the speaker. [...]
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