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The Juggler Poem

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In the poem “The Juggler” written by Richard Wilbur, the speaker displays a clear fascination in the juggler’s act and illustrates the juggler as an individual capable of bringing happiness and distraction, which is temporary and fleeting as everyone is vulnerable to the monotony and sadness natural to the human condition. Through this description, the speaker reveals that he is cognizant of this weakness and admires the juggler for being able to uplift the spirits of those who watch his performance, even if it is for a short period of time. The poem is organized into five stanzas with each stanza consisting of 6 lines each. The rhythm is arranged in an ABCBAC pattern. This slightly strange pattern paired with the punctuations (mostly only …show more content…

From the ball “[wheeling] on his wheeling hands,” “learning the ways of lightness,” and “[clinging] to their course,” the speaker is able to establish an almost whimsical tone and emphasize how easy it is for the juggler to complete this seemingly impossible task while the repetition highlights the fluidity of the action. The juggler is able to escape gravity, an omnipresent natural force, which can be compared to the human condition of monotony and sadness and provide temporary relief for those watching. As well as setting the tone, the alliteration such as “Oh, oh his toe the table is turning” adds to the rhythm and includes a lightness previously seen. Moreover, the specific diction that the speaker uses also contributes to the performance of the juggler. Some of the simple diction utilized includes “whee” and “boom” which encompasses the continued theme of lightness and child-like wonder whereas more otherworldly diction such as “swinging a small heaven about his ears” and “[reeling]… heaven in” the more supernatural ability of the juggler. All of this vivid imagery of how the juggler performs not only with the balls, but also with household object contributes to the amazing act but also gives way to the idea that the people, including the “boys… and the girls,” are watching this show for different reasons. The older people are

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