Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Alone with the Goddess" by Linda Gregg immerses us in a scene rich with cultural and emotional resonance, blending myth, personal devotion, and the simple yet profound act of giving. Through the poem, Gregg explores themes of love, loss, ritual, and the interaction between human and divine.

The poem begins with a vivid image: "The young men ride their horses fast / on the wet sand of Parangtritis." This setting, Parangtritis Beach in Indonesia, is renowned for its mystical aura and connection to the sea goddess, often associated with the Javanese queen of the southern sea, Nyai Roro Kidul. The young men's vigorous riding on the "wet sand," with "the water sliding / up to them and away," sets a dynamic scene, suggesting both the thrill of youth and the ceaseless motion of the sea.

The mention of the goddess introduces a sense of reverence and danger: "This is the sea where the goddess lives, / angry, her lover taken away." The goddess's anger and loss reflect universal themes of longing and bereavement, imbuing the sea with a palpable tension. The warnings follow: "Don’t wear red, don’t wear green here, / the people say. Do not swim in the sea. / Give her an offering." These colors are traditionally believed to anger the goddess, and the prohibitions underscore the respect and fear she commands.

In an act of devotion and perhaps desperation, the speaker offers a coconut to protect the man she loves: "I give a coconut to protect / the man I love." The sea, personified as the goddess, rejects the offering: "The water pushes it back." This rejection is significant, suggesting that the goddess's displeasure or the impossibility of appeasing such a powerful force transcends human understanding or control.

Undeterred, the speaker wades further into the sea to throw the coconut again, demonstrating determination and hope: "I wade out and throw it farther." An old woman, representing traditional wisdom, delivers an ominous message: “The goddess does not accept your gift.” This moment underscores the futility of the speaker's efforts and the unyielding nature of the divine will.

The speaker's response, however, is both playful and defiant: "I say perhaps she likes me / and we are playing a game." This assertion injects a note of personal agency and optimism, suggesting that the speaker believes in a more intimate, perhaps reciprocal relationship with the goddess. The old woman’s silence in response highlights the tension between tradition and individual belief.

The poem closes with a return to the young men and their horses: "The horses wear blinders of cloth, / the young men exalt in their bodies, / not seeing right or left, pretending / to be brave." The blinders symbolize a willful ignorance or a focus that excludes broader awareness, mirroring the way people often navigate life's uncertainties by focusing on immediate pleasures or tasks. The men's pretense of bravery juxtaposed with the speaker’s genuine interaction with the divine and nature reveals different approaches to facing the unknown and uncontrollable forces of life.

"Alone with the Goddess" thus captures a moment of profound personal and cultural interplay, where human actions intersect with mythic beliefs. Gregg's portrayal of the speaker's interaction with the sea and the goddess, alongside the contrasting youthful exuberance of the horse riders, underscores a deep reverence for the mysteries of nature and the enduring human desire to connect with and influence those mysteries. The poem leaves readers contemplating the balance between respect for tradition and the personal pursuit of meaning and connection in a world governed by forces beyond our control.

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