Analysis- Poem

Recently, I read a poem by Naomi Shabib Nye called "Hidden". In the poem Nye talks about a fern that can be hidden by a large stone and how it would feel like it has been swallowed by the stone. Of course, the fern and stone can stand for many things. For example the fern can stand for a person who is really shy and never really speaks their true heart out in front of people, while the stone can represent the world around them with loud, obnoxious people who are never are afraid to say what's on my mind.   Therefore the people who are loud are obviously going to overtake the shy person and conceal them. The fern and stone are clear symbols and the poem reads, "If you place a fern / under a stone / the next day it/ will be/nearly invisible/as if the stone has/ swallowed it" (1-6). 


Overall, depending on the way you approach this poem, there are multiple meanings that can come out of it. The first meaning I took out of the poem is that if you don't forgive and forget the people you love just becuase of a mistake you or the other committed, then you will always end up regretting it. The lines that show that are, "If you tuck the name of a loved one / under you tongue too long / without speaking it / it becomes blood," (7-10). The meaning I take out of it is you want to mend relationships with people quickly otherwise you will never do so. Then, you will end up regretting it and hold that feeling with you for a very long time.

The line, "no one sees / the fuel that feeds you," (15-16) can mean that no one will know what your confidence booster is or what things you are motivated by, so continue to use that motivation to go log ways. I also feel the other meaning from that line is that some memories/ secrets are what keeps you going whether it be in fear or happinees so continue on using those to keep you going considering the fact that no one knows. Certain memories that people have act like motivation for them or impact who they are now. Those memories may even further the meaning of their life and give them a reason to do what they are doing now or just a reason to live.

Link to the Poem, "Hidden"