Turning
"The Layers" is rolling in change. Turning, or an object that turns, is important imagery, showcasing the transformation taking place in the poem, though it only occurs twice directly. Kunitz uses...
External vs. Internal Worlds
Throughout the poem, there's a stark contrast between how the external (or surface) world is described and how the internal (or conscious) world of the speaker is portrayed. Kunitz is establishing...
Stones
Back in the day, stones were commonly used to construct major roads for travel. We still have phrases that reference that relationship. In "The Layers," stone imagery occurs twice, which is no coin...