Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Coping Prana" by Will Alexander is a poem that delves deep into the realms of self-perception and existential struggle, using vivid and often abstract imagery to convey a sense of inner turmoil and complexity. The title itself, combining "coping" (dealing effectively with something difficult) and "prana" (a Sanskrit word meaning life force or vital principle), suggests a struggle with the essential forces of life and existence.

The poem opens with the speaker describing their method of breathing "through chronic terrifying ferns / through a black ungracious stoma." This imagery is rich and layered, suggesting a survivalist mode of existence, one that is both primal and suffocating. The "black ungracious stoma" could be interpreted as a metaphor for a harsh, unyielding reality that the speaker has to navigate.

The "uranium rejoinder" and the "impact pointing backwards" imply a forceful, perhaps destructive, influence from the past, something radioactive in its persistence and danger. This backward-pointing impact suggests that the speaker is haunted or hindered by past events or traumas.

The speaker's presence causes observers to "panic / to blur / & forget / & to flee," indicating a sense of otherness or alienation. The speaker is perceived as a threat or an anomaly, unable to be understood or integrated by others. The "wayward dorsal looming" and "lettering in black drizzle" further enhance this image of a mysterious, potentially menacing figure.

The poem continues with the speaker describing themselves as lawless, despised, and likened to natural disasters or dangerous entities ("a typhoon in a sea well"). This could reflect the speaker's internal perception of themselves as chaotic, untamed, and misunderstood.

The final stanzas portray the speaker as an outcast, viewed as "pointless positron without image," "hieroglyph," "sundial," and "martyr." These symbols suggest a sense of being ancient, indecipherable, and sacrificial. The speaker is seen as a relic or a symbol, something that exists outside the bounds of conventional understanding or appreciation.

Throughout the poem, Alexander uses dense, complex language and imagery to create a sense of dislocation and existential struggle. The speaker is both a part of the world and apart from it, struggling to find a place within a reality that seems both hostile and incomprehensible.

"Coping Prana" is a challenging poem that requires the reader to engage with its abstract imagery and layered meanings. It speaks to the universal human experience of alienation and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can often seem indifferent or hostile. The poem's dense language and vivid imagery create a powerful impression of a mind grappling with its own existence and identity.

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