The title of the poem suggests a religious or spiritual significance to the experience, and the poem does indeed evoke a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and bounty of the natural world.
Bread and butter and honey,
I spread it on a clean plate
The poem begins by listing the simple ingredients of a meal: bread, butter, and honey. These humble items are transformed into something special by the act of spreading them on a clean plate. The use of the word “spread” suggests a sense of bounty and generosity, while the word “clean” suggests a sense of purity and ritual.
I am alone. I live alone.
I put the plate down in front of me,
The speaker of the poem is alone, and the meal takes on a sense of communion with nature. The speaker is surrounded by the beauty of the natural world and is grateful for the simple gifts that it provides. The pause after “I live alone” emphasizes the solitude of the speaker and makes the meal seem more sacred and meaningful.
I look down at the plate,
And I see a world.
As the speaker looks down at the plate, they see a world in the simple meal. The bread, butter, and honey become symbols of the larger world, and the speaker is filled with a sense of wonder and awe. The word “world” is repeated twice for emphasis, and the line break between “I see” and “a world” creates a moment of suspense that heightens the impact of the revelation.
I see mountains and valleys,
Oceans and deserts,
Forests and fields.
The speaker’s vision expands to include mountains and valleys, oceans and deserts, forests and fields. The simple meal has become a window into the vastness and beauty of the natural world. The use of parallel structure in this passage creates a sense of balance and harmony, and the images of mountains and valleys, oceans and deserts, forests and fields encompass a wide range of landscapes.
And I know that I am blessed.
The poem ends with the speaker expressing a sense of gratitude and blessing. The meal has brought the speaker into communion with the natural world, and they are filled with a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty and bounty of life.
“A Blessing” is a simple yet powerful poem that captures the beauty and bounty of the natural world. The poem’s use of simple language and imagery creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, and the speaker’s sense of wonder and awe is infectious. The poem is a reminder of the simple gifts that we often take for granted, and it encourages us to appreciate the beauty of the world around us.