Oh No by Robert Creeley

Oh No

If you wander far enough

you will come to it

and when you get there

they will give you a place to sit

for yourself only, in a nice chair,

and all your friends will be there

with smiles on their faces

and they will likewise all have places.

                        —Robert Creeley

            The first time I read this poem, I thought it was about going to school and the doors being open to education. However, as I read the poem more, I realize that it’s not just about school; this poem is referring to finding your own place in this world because the poem says, “if you wander far enough” which signifies that wherever the speaker is referring to, is a journey away, just like finding your place in this world is a journey. Another interpretation I have is of the place being in heaven because the poem mentions having all your friends there with smiling faces; in heaven, you get joined with the people that mean a lot to you.

            An issue I came across was the title “Oh No” because I don’t really know how it relates to the poem. “Oh No” seems to conflict with the ideas in the last stanza about there being a nice chair and smiling friends because “oh no” is usually thought of as being negative and smiling is positive.

           

            I liked the imagery I got while reading this poem because I would imagine walking through the woods during the fall with the leaves covering the ground and then coming to a clearing with a bunch of chairs in a circle; I get a sense of peacefulness from this poem.