Analysis on a Pace Like That

Analysis of “A Pace Like That” by Yehuda Amichai

In the poem “A Pace Like That” by Yehuda Amichai, it uses metaphors and similes about how he wishes that time were slower. Yehuda also makes references to his own life and how it relates to his wish. I believe Yehuda is trying to convey how and why he wants a slower pace.

At the beginning of the poem Yehuda mentions his lemon tree. This lemon tree symbolizes the things he missed and wishes he could have experienced. He states how he wanted to observe its growth. Which in turn he was using it as a metaphor to observe his own growth throughout his own life.

The simile of the poem compares the pace that he wants in his life to how children learn how to read. Think about how a child learns to read, they do it slowly, cautiously, conscientiously and aware of what they experiencing. Yehuda wants to be able to slow down time so he can analyze the world around him, instead of being rushed through it like everyone else. He also mentions how someone would decipher an inscription, which has a similar meaning to how a child learns to read. When someone first learns how to read they take their time to comprehend, analyze, and experience what they are doing.

Yehuda mentioned how there are more people over time, and they criticize, judge, and give orders. I think that he prefers to be alone, and by himself. In the poem it states: “The longer you live, the more people there are who comment on your actions.” This is probably the evidence, or reason that he dislikes people. I think he wishes time would go by slower so he can keep to himself, analyze and observe, and be alone with his thoughts. In the last line of the poem it says: “But he is alone down there in his depths.”

Throughout the poem Yehuda Amichai makes references to his own life. He describes how he could live his life slower and take his time to examine, and comprehend his life experiences.