The Tally Stick

The Tally Stick ENLT 121-2 It is not always feasible to deliver unrivaleds be intimate for another human being simply done words or ordinary actions. Jarold Ramsey wrote a rime that demonstrates how simple markings and items can have priceless substances to them. The Tally Stick is a poem that explains the symbolic intricacies of a stick that he has created for his wife of many years and more(prenominal) to come. The poem begins showing the analogy amidst their nuptials and the general physiology of the stick itself.Ramsey carved their lives in secret (2) to show that his endure of art and their memories should carry on mysterious. Both the stick and their marriage argon beautiful to the public eye, unless he only wants the deuce of them to know the details of why it is so precious. The stick is carved in mountain mahogany (3) which is both(prenominal) very durable and free of voids present in common woods. This quality of both wood and bed is exemplified by hard and r atomic number 18 (3) to comprise the strength and preciousness of both.Line 5 makes the transition from Ramsey discussing the quality of their passionateness to positively reminiscing their lives together by touching and handling (5) the stick as opposed to observing it. This is what makes the run up stick so meaningful a couple would ordinarily revisit their marriage by push throughset a scrapbook, whereas Ramsey has created an artifact that can be felt in addition to observed to stir up more powerful emotions. The almost beloved parting of the marriage to Ramsey is the actual ceremony itself.The intricate strait (6) at the beginning of the stick, which he explains is our wedding (7), demonstrates how much he values the matrimonial ceremony between them. This intricacy is created where grains converge and join (6) which can be personified to a man and woman becoming onetheir convergence making them larger and more whole than they were as individuals. He values this moment so dearly that he can give specific details of the wedding such as who danced (9). Because he can recall so many details of this day, the details of the stick are readable notwithstanding with a thumb (9).This deep grain was chosen to bet this occasion to symbolize its significance, but more importantly because those grains are permanent in the wood just as their love is permanent. There are two specific symbols that Ramsey etched into the stick symbolizing two unavoidable events life and death. The first symbols carved were little arrowheads (10), and Ramsey explicitly says they symbolize the births of our children (11). Arrowheads were essential for the sustainment of life in ancient cartridge take toers, therefore Ramsey chose them to represent his children that bring life to him and his wife.Along with the arrowheads are heavy crosses (12) which also explicitly represents the loss of their parents and friends. In the bible, Jesus was squeeze to suffer by carrying his own h eavy cross before crucifixion the crosses on the stick symbolize both the suffering of Ramsey and his wife and the deaths of their loved ones. Not only does Ramsey include the influential moments of their lives through etchings, but uncontrollable events are also present on the stick. He included Events, History (15) because occurrences outside marriage do have a slight impact on how a couple lives together.These events affected them much less than those such as the birth of their children, and he symbolizes this by marking them as random hashmarks (15). These bantam scratches were placed sporadically against the swirling grain (16) the swirling grain is more precious and has a direction and purpose on the stick, whereas the hashmarks were chiseled randomly simply to present a reminder to him and his wife. Ramsey goes into detail about two historic events represented by the hashmarks.The Year the World Went Wrong (17) refers to around 1961 the year the United States sent multitud e into Vietnam which eventually escaladed into the Vietnam War including China, Russia, and France. Other hashmarks on the stick are the Great Men fell (18). This is mentioned subsequently the Year the World Went Wrong which means that these days occurred after 1961, yet were relatively close to that time period. It is possible that men who fell (died) included Kennedy in 1963, Malcom X in 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.All four of those men profoundly impacted America and it is likely Ramsey and his wife grieved over their deaths together. In spite of these horrible events occurring, the love between Ramsey and his wife run through it all (19) both in reality and in the grains on the stick. We know that their marriage persevered because their lengthening runes (19) ran through the hash marks (19), meaning their growing characteristics and companionship as a couple were not affected by these tragedies but instead continued on their natural cour se.The final stanza returns to the present time and describes the unfinished state of the tally stick. Ramsey believes that he and his wife are approaching death by indicating the stick is whittled nearly end to end (20). date the stick is almost completely whittled, there is in fact still space left, showing his intrust to create more memories with his wife so they can be carved on. Although the stick was carved out of hard (4) mahogany, the current state is delicate as scrimshaw (21) because of the amount of wood carved away by memories.It is so delicate that it would not bear you up (21), simply emphasizing the sticks strong-arm weaknessnot even able to support the weight of his wife if she used it as a cane. The final stanza is the first time that Ramsey admits his marriage is realistic and not perfect. Outside of the beautiful carvings is wood that has been smoothen simply by handling it. The phrases Regrets have polished it (22) and hand over hand (22) are both used to symb olize times of dispute in the marriage.The effort and friction required to hold the stick by hand while carving it has polished it, which is analogous to the effort needed to work through hardships and regrets of the marriage. In addition to the Tally Sticks current state, the final stanza expresses Ramseys desires for the remainder of his marriage and life. Ramsey only wants to reminisce meaningful life events with his wife, which are represented by their unforgotten wonders (23). The fingers testament feel sign after sign (25) on the stick, which have already been established as memorable events earlier in the poem.Ramsey wants this remembrance to be innocent and enjoyable as children on a booster cable (24), like kids playing on a trail in the forest. He does not wish to rag about the hardships in his marriage, as seen through the phrase talk softly (26), clearly indicating a imperturbable conversation that would not include any regrets. The final phrase of the poem is the ey es go ruse (27). The most provoking thought of this last line does not refer to simply losing vision, but instead is an analogy to dying together so that neither of them has to experience life without the other.Ramsey ends the poem with this desire to express how dearly he loves his wife. The Tally Stick demonstrates how Ramseys love for his wife can be objectified through an artwork that he has created. The medium for the masterpiece and the symbols on it are carefully selected so that every part of the stick is significant. The marriage, the milestones, and the hardships of their lives together are engraved on the stick, yet Ramsey makes it clear which parts are of most importance to him through detail and emphasizes that he truly believes in the phrase until death do us part.