Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Assignment" by Hayden Carruth is a compelling and deeply intimate poem that explores themes of desire, the act of creation, and the intricate relationship between the observer and the observed. Through a direct address by a female speaker to the poet, the poem delves into the detailed portrayal of the female body, not merely as a subject of physical beauty but as a symbol of personal identity, empowerment, and artistic inspiration.

The poem begins with an imperative: "Then write," setting the tone for a directive conversation wherein the female speaker encourages the poet to express his feelings through poetry. This encouragement is not generic; it is an invitation to write specifically about her, about the distinct and personal aspects of her physicality that she herself takes delight in. The detailed description of her body—from the "recurved arcs of my breasts" to the "coin-sized hollow at the center" of her throat—serves to foreground the body as a landscape rich with aesthetic and emotional significance.

What makes "Assignment" remarkable is its portrayal of the female body through the lens of self-assertion and autonomy. The speaker is not a passive subject; she actively describes her attributes and asserts her pleasure in them. This self-possession and celebration of her own body challenge traditional representations of female bodies in literature as passive objects of male desire. Instead, the body is presented as a source of strength, beauty, and personal pride.

The poem also touches on the sensual and erotic, with descriptions that evoke the tactile and visual, such as the "volupte / of soap frothing in my curling crotch-hair" and the "tight parabola of my vulva." These lines, vivid and unabashed, highlight the speaker's comfort with and ownership of her sexuality, further emphasizing the theme of empowerment.

Furthermore, the poem reflects on the act of writing and the relationship between the poet and his muse. The speaker's instructions to write "in pleasure and with / devotion" suggest that the creative process is not just an act of observation but an act of participation, a joining of two beings in the act of creation. The insistence that the poet not worry about time and that she won't "need what you've done until you finish" emphasizes the importance of the process over the product, the experience over the outcome.

"Assignment" is a meditation on the power dynamics of observation, the celebration of the human form, and the deep connections that can be forged through the act of artistic creation. Carruth's poem invites readers to reconsider notions of beauty, desire, and artistic expression, challenging us to see beyond the surface and to appreciate the depth of individual identity and self-awareness.

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