The trick is, to live your days by Peter Meinke — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

The trick is, to live your days as if each one may be your last (for they go fast, and young men lose their lives in strange and unimaginable ways) but at the same time, plan long range (for they go slow; if you survive the shattered windshield and the bursting shell you will arrive at our approximation here below of heaven or hell). To be specific, between the peony and the rose plant squash and spinach, turnips and tomatoes; beauty is nectar and nectar, in a desert, saves, but the stomach craves stronger sustenance than the honied vine. Therefore, marry a pretty girl after seeing her mother; Show your soul to one man, work with another; and always serve bread with your wine. But son, always serve wine.

Translation (English)

The key is to live each day as if it might be your last (because they pass quickly, and young men die in unexpected and unimaginable ways) but also, plan for the long term (because time can be slow; if you survive the broken glass and the explosions you will reach either a version of heaven or hell here on earth). Specifically, between the peony and the rose plant squash and spinach, turnips and tomatoes; beauty is sweet and sweetness, in a barren place, saves, but the body needs more substantial food than sweet vines. So, marry a beautiful woman only after seeing her mother; Reveal your true self to one person, work with another; and always serve bread with your wine. But son, always serve wine.

About the Poet

Peter Meinke (Contemporary)

Peter Meinke is an American poet and author, born in 1932 in Brooklyn, New York. He has published 18 books of poems and short stories and is the current poet laureate of Florida. His work has appeared in prestigious magazines like The New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Free verse
When Written: Contemporary period, specific date unknown
Background: The poem offers practical life advice, blending the urgency of living fully with the wisdom of planning for the future. It reflects on the balance between enjoying life's beauty and ensuring one's survival and well-being.

Sources: https://www.yourdailypoem.com/listpoem.jsp?poem_id=1871, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Meinke

Detailed Explanation

This poem by Peter Meinke is a reflection on how to live a balanced life. It advises the reader to live each day as if it were their last, acknowledging the unpredictability and brevity of life. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of planning for the future, as life can also be long and challenging. The poem uses gardening metaphors to suggest that while beauty and pleasure are important, they are not sufficient for survival; practical sustenance is necessary. The advice to marry a pretty girl after seeing her mother implies considering long-term consequences and family traits. The poem concludes with the advice to always serve wine, symbolizing the importance of maintaining joy and celebration in life. The poem's tone is both pragmatic and poetic, blending everyday wisdom with lyrical beauty.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
trick	method	a way or technique to achieve something	trik
approximation	estimate	a version or likeness that is close to something else	ap-rok-si-may-shun
nectar	sweet liquid	a sugary fluid produced by plants, often associated with sweetness and beauty	nek-tar
sustenance	nourishment	food and drink regarded as a source of strength	sus-te-nance
honied	sweet	having a taste or smell of honey; sweet	hon-eed
craves	desires	to have a strong desire for something	krayvz
shattered	broken	completely destroyed or smashed	shat-terd
vine	plant	a climbing or trailing plant	vyn
serve	give	to present or provide food or drink	surv
windshield	car window	the front window of a vehicle	wind-sheeld
bursting	exploding	breaking open or apart suddenly and violently	burst-ing
shell	explosive	a projectile filled with explosive material	shel
peony	flower	a type of flowering plant known for its large blooms	pee-oh-nee
rose	flower	a type of flowering plant known for its beauty and fragrance	rohz