English Commentary ¡§At the Fish Houses¡¨ is thought to be a poem Elizabeth Bishop wrote based on a visit to the home of her childhood. Themes that arise in this poem are nostalgia, childhood, nature versus man, knowledge and the unknown, death and time. The theme of nostalgia arises through the tone of the poem. There is heavy use of visual imagery in lines one through twelve. The atmosphere and imagery appeals to the readers¡¦ …showed first 75 words of 463 total…

…showed last 75 words of 463 total…the beginning of the first stanza, with heavy visual imagery, the language used is very conversational. This allows the reader to relate with the writer on a more personal level. Visual Imagery is used as the writer searches for understanding of death through the sense of touch, smell, sound and sight. The perspective is constantly shifting, from objective to interpretive beauty and sense of loss and nostalgia, finally ending with abstract meditation and heightened insight.