Introduction to Poetry

I wanted to wright about this poem because I actually disagree with it, and most of the class. :)
I think we talked about it enough to come to the conclusion it's saying not to go to deep into poetry; to enjoy it more.  But why not read to much into a poem?  Almost all poetry is very vague, and yes should be simply enjoyed, but I think going to deep may not be possible.  If the reader is able to get something out of it, why not inspect every piece of it?  This poem says "press an ear against its hive."  But I don't see what is wrong with looking into the hive--to really go past the enjoying and simple analyzing.   If every person reads a poem a little differently, then I think it's ok to beat it with a hose, as Collins says.  That is, as long as your still able to enjoy the beauty. And I think that IS possible.

The Cat

In the beginning of this poem (first 4 stanzas), I was getting the feeling that the cat was making the right choice.  Like the cat was trapped inside and needed to break free.  Cats, my cats at least, are very stubborn creatures and don't like to be held in one place.  But at the same time stanza 2 contradicted this.  Holub described the outside as being a place to get trapped in.  The way this stanza was broken up into lines was very dramatic about it also.  "you'll only be trapped...and bewitched...and will suffer in vain."  The way it was broken up emphasized the horridness of leaving.  But usually leaving a place doesn't make one "trapped."    It's like it's a man trying desperately to tell a woman not to leave.  He's trying to explain to her that there is nothing out there.  In fact he makes "nothing?" its own line in stanza 3.  Why would she want to go to nothing.  Like he believes everything she needs is right where he is.  But I didn't expect him to be right.  The last two stanzas show that she lost herself out there, like he thought she would. "She dissolved" I expected her to find freedom when she left.  But his desperate cries helped none.  She left and lost herself.  "And no one ever saw her again.  Not even she herself."