Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Perhaps" by Lucille Clifton is a contemplative and deeply introspective poem that explores themes of perception, the inevitability of change, and the cyclical nature of existence. Through a series of hypothetical musings about losing her senses and the essence of self, Clifton delves into the uncertainty and transformative potential inherent in the human experience. The poem oscillates between the fear of loss—be it sight, sound, or self—and the acceptance of such loss as part of a larger, perhaps cosmic, cycle of existence.

The opening lines, "i am going blind. / my eyes exploding, / seeing more than is there / until they burst into nothing," evoke a sense of overwhelming inundation by the external world, leading to a catastrophic loss. This imagery of sight expanding beyond its limits until it collapses into nothingness metaphorically suggests an existential crisis wherein the very tools we rely on to perceive and interpret the world around us betray us, leading to a dissolution of certainty and identity.

Clifton then shifts the focus from sight to sound, contemplating a transition to deafness characterized by "the feathered hum of silence." This phrase, beautifully paradoxical, captures the nuanced experience of silence not as the absence of sound but as a presence in itself, one that is both delicate and pervasive. This progression from overwhelming sight to enveloping silence mirrors the journey from being bombarded by too much external stimulation to finding a profound, albeit forced, sense of peace in sensory deprivation.

The poem then explores the notion of "going away from my self," introducing the image of "the cool / fingers of lace on my skin / the fingers of madness." This metaphorical depiction of madness as both chilling and intricately delicate suggests a loss of self that is as terrifying as it is mesmerizing. The invocation of "lace" connotes a certain beauty in the process of unraveling, highlighting the complex relationship between beauty, destruction, and the loss of self.

Clifton concludes with a philosophical reflection: "or perhaps / in the palace of time / our lives are a circular stair / and i am turning." This final stanza offers a shift in perspective, suggesting that what may feel like loss or disintegration might instead be part of a grander, cyclical pattern of existence. The "palace of time" and the imagery of life as a "circular stair" evoke a sense of majestic continuity and the eternal return, positing that every ending is a turn in an infinite spiral, leading not to an end but to a new perspective, a new phase of the journey.

"Perhaps" is a testament to Clifton's skill in weaving together personal vulnerability with universal existential themes. The poem invites readers to confront their fears of loss and change, encouraging a broader contemplation of life's cyclical nature and the possibility that within every loss lies the potential for transformation and renewal. Through her poignant and layered imagery, Clifton challenges us to find meaning and beauty in the transitory, to accept the inevitability of change, and to embrace the complex, ever-turning spiral of life.

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