As the poem, The Good Life, began, I immediately began contemplating the meaning of life. My first assumption of the writer’s simple title was that she may have faced a hardship within her youth, as I had read solely the title at the beginning of my analysis. However, as I continued to read, I interpreted Smith’s poem as a journey through life, accepting the downfalls and hardships that one might encounter. Realistic and difficult life struggles are depicted throughout her work, which assist the reader in creating a connection between Smith and the reader’s personal struggles. Tracy Smith utilizes simple diction with a contrast of complex ideas to withdraw the true meaning of an optimistic life. Smith’s attitude rises from beautifully simplistic to a more indepth analyzation of being grateful for the little things in life. Although The Good Life is oddly simplified, it contains metaphorical allusions to her past life and the relation to the blessings in her present life. The excerpt, “Like a woman journeying for water/From a village without a well, then living…” highlights Smith’s grateful presence, as her life continued to achieve success after her struggles. The shift throughout this poem is non-existent. I believe this is the case because not only does it have a simplistic meaning, but there is no change in context or “clue” to differentiate the speaker’s emotions. It is equally similar in ideas throughout the lines of the poem, which provides the reader with a solid sense of the theme. The theme of this poem may seem obvious, considering the length and condensed simplicity of The Good Life. However, this poem dives into the theme of the expression, “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel”. Smith portrays the struggles of life very well, while continuing to maintain a positive attitude throughout the poem. She did an impeccable job intertwining the simplicity of complex ideas. As I completed the poem, and analyzed the title again, I understood the true meaning — “a good life with struggles”. I think by writing this simple-worded poem, it was supposed to have a larger and more complex meaning behind it. I am a strong believer in “everything happens for a reason”, and life will give us ups and downs to see what we can handle, as well as prepare us for the future. I chose this poem not for the obvious reason one might believe (yes, it is very short), but for my belief in events happening for a reason, shaping an individual into the person they are to become. Struggles will come and go, as will the happiness one will encounter. All emotions are temporary, and I have recently discovered this important life lesson, which is the last reason I chose The Good Life.
