In May Swenson’s “Bleeding,” the speaker utilizes third person narrative to express an unhealthy relationship between a “cut” and a “knife.” The “knife” consistently orders the cut to stop “bleeding,” claiming, “Stop bleeding you make me messy with blood,” (3) giving off an annoyed and angered tone. Meanwhile, the cut is vulnerable and addicted to being cut, admitting, “I know [said the cut] I bleed too easily I hate / that I can’t help it. (11-12) These sentences express uneasiness and portray an addiction that is dangerous but necessary. In this situation, the knife symbolizes the addition and the cut is the addict. Although there is no form of rhyme throughout the poem, the end of each line fairly end with the same words: “knife” and “cut,” which may possibly be considered end rhyme or repetition. The repetition embeds the words in the reader’s head. Aside from that, the only constant application of sound is the use caesura. These deviations cause random pauses throughout the poem, thus highlighting the cut’s and knife’s hesitance and weakness to confront each other about their situation. Although the knife and cut have trouble admitting their faults, they both take pleasure in the cutting and bleeding. The speaker states, “The knife did not say it couldn’t help it but it sank in further, (7-8) whereas the cut declares, “I feel I have to bleed to feel [better] I think.” (42) The knife and the cut repeatedly utter to “stop” (from bleeding and cutting), but the deviations within the sentence express that that is not what they really desire.
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I found this poem very intriguing although somewhat confusing to read at first glance. I agree with you and how you sense a feeling of a necessary but dangerous addiction. I too noted the usage of caesura and its intention to cause a feeling of weakness and shortness in breathe. You conclude your entry by saying, “Deviations within the sentence express that that is not what they really desire.” Are you implying that the cutter is finding pleasure in the action, like pain is pleasure?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your last sentence, I get an image that could almost be sexual. The shortness in breathe could be that of two persons taking part in intimate activities, in this case the people are the cut and knife. The repetition of “stop,” but implications of desires that are contrary symbolize a sinful addiction. Speaking of sin, some lines in the poem reminded me of something biblical.
In line 30 the cut says to the knife, “blood is drying it will rub off you’ll be shiny again and clean.” To me hearing this line brought images of a crucifixion. The idea of being soiled with blood, but coming out shiny and clean, gives a sense of purging the body of sins. Now that the idea is out there, does any of it seem plausible to you?