Poem Comparison Essay

Essay viewing David Whyte's "Working Together" compared to Yehuda Aichai’s “The Place Where We Are Right"

The Interworking's 

Poetry, by design, is made to evoke emotion from it’s readers. No matter what form, poetry allows us to gaze through a colorful lens as it shines light onto the elements of the world we could not see before. “Working Together” by David Whyte exploits these vary elements in his work as he captures the essences of the intagibles of the world around us, and compares it to the intangibles inside us all. Yehuda Aichai’s “The Place Where We Are Right,” discusses the battle between following what you know to be true, and having enough wisdom to accept defeat. Both Whyte’s and Aichai’s poems share common traits while displaying two contrasting themes, tones, and morals. Both poems explore the interworking of humanity through emotion, thought, and psychological understanding of the individual to paint a clear message of what it means to be human. 

One fo the first few lines, “…Flowers will never grow,” immediately sets the tone of the story. Aichai’s reveals a tone of despair, sadness, regret, and loss of hope for having to sacrifice her beliefs. The poem takes on a heavily negative and depressing tone. On the contrary, Whyte’s poem states, “Working together in common cause to produce miracles.” This is an uplifting line that is opposite of that in Aichai’s. The tone of Whyte’s poem can be described as hopefull, patient, faithful, and trusting. The tone of “Working Together” can be viewed as almost of a mirrored oppsoited of that of “The Place Where We Are Right.” From these two poems, it’s easy to see the tone of the poem leaves a lasting impact on the reader and can amplify the message the author is trying to convey. Both of the author’s tones represent their veiw on the subject, while in the process are able to call forth emotion. 

Whyte’s poem, “Working Together” is psychologically developed and carries a deeper understanding of human nature. He states in the final line, “Imagine and look for the true shape of our own self by forming it to the great intangibles about us.” This is one of the most powerful lines of the whole poem. He compares “intangibles” of the world, to the “intangibles” we hold to be true inside us all. he explains how something unable to be grasped and lacking a physical appearance can actually define us and give us insight into the unknown of what lies ahead. “The Place Where We Are Right” by Aichai share in this universal message. “But doubts and loves dig up the world…” This line of the poem is so powerful because it explains the struggle of human nature. The poem explains the inner struggle we all experience from “doubt” or “love.” There is never a clear answer about what to do or how to handle it. That is what makes life worth living, to solve these unanswered questions for ourselves. What we look like does not define us, how was react, what we say, the actions we take, and the intangibles inside us are the things that actually define us. 

“And a whisper will be heard in the palce where the ruined house once stood.” The idea of thought is simply just an inner conscience. So this line of Aichai’s poem spell out the inner workings of our thought process. The poem depicts having to sacrifice what you believe to be fair or “right” to move on leaving behind what you held close. Symbolically, the house Aichai is describing represents the things she had to let go of. And the “whisper” represents the memory she will always have and be associated with that specific event in her life. Whyte’s working together states, “I am thinking of the way…to trust to those elements we have yet to see.” The poem blatantly says that he is thinking of things that are unexplainable, things that do not add up but yet still happen like miracles. Both poems highlight the key elements of thought we all possess, but Aichai is focuses on the ones we keep locked away, forced to carry on through life’s obstacles. While Whytes’s focuses on the good that is yet to come and to revel in the hidden wonder that we already have coiled inside us. 

Poetry is a powerful form of self expression and allows insight to the mind fo the author and creates an emotion connection to the reader. David Whyte’s “Working Together” illistrates the journey we all take to understand ourselves on a deeper level and know there is more to the world than just ourselves. While Aichai’s “The Place Where we are Right” demonstrates the struggle we all take in knowing right from wrong and triumphing over life’s mental obstacles. The auhtor’s relay these simalarities and differences through tone, emotion, and thought. Both these poem’s have relatable themes of creating a better verison of ourselves, furthering our knowledge, and to have patience in what lies ahead next.