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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

ON RETURNING TO TEACH, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


"On Returning to Teach" by Marvin Bell is a reflective and nuanced poem that explores themes of return, recognition, aspiration, and the cyclical nature of life and career, particularly within the academic world. Bell employs a mix of personal introspection, humor, and a keen observation of the human condition to articulate the complexities of coming back to a familiar setting with new expectations and altered perceptions.

The poem opens with the image of youthful exuberance, as young voices echo in the distance, embodying the vibrancy and dynamism of student life. This scene is set against the poet's more mature, contemplative stance, symbolized by the "stately, fostering mother" who ignores the youthful whoops—a metaphor for the poet's own disconnection or detachment from the youthful energy around him. The moon's gravitational pull on the waters, a natural and powerful force, mirrors the poet's own draw back to the academic world, suggesting an inevitable, almost cosmic return to his roots.

Bell humorously depicts his ambition to win the National Book Award, juxtaposing this lofty goal with the immediate, mundane predicament of being locked in the English Department. This contrast highlights the tension between the poet's aspirations and the reality of his situation, underscoring the often-quirky challenges of academic life.

The rallying of friends who come to his aid with "refrains," "tunes," and "lips," along with tools to physically free him, serves as a metaphor for the support network within the academic community. Their efforts to "bore the walls" and release him are emblematic of breaking through intellectual and literal barriers, celebrating the return to a world of lively discourse and camaraderie.

Bell's desire to share in their "spirits," "fitting wits," and "sensual nostalgia" reflects a yearning to reconnect with the intellectual and emotional richness of academic life. The mention of the short lines in his palms lengthening and the tender sound of thigh-slapping evokes a sense of rejuvenation and renewed connection with his peers, suggesting that the act of returning has revitalized him in some profound way.

The poet's reflections on being rescued by "black angels" and his various desires speak to past experiences of guidance, support, and longing for connection and affirmation. These experiences, whether literal or metaphorical, underscore the poet's journey through life and the academic world, marked by moments of enlightenment, laughter, and the pursuit of companionship and understanding.

The concluding lines of the poem, contrasting the "second childhood" where there are no more children with the "second semester" where the teachers are older, encapsulate the poem's exploration of time and transformation. In this return, there is an acknowledgment of change—the innocence of the first experience is gone, replaced by a deeper, more complex understanding of life and teaching. The teachers, now older, embody the accumulation of wisdom and experience, yet they face the perennial challenge of engaging with the ever-renewing world of youth and learning.

"On Returning to Teach" thus weaves a rich tapestry of reflection, humor, and insight, capturing the bittersweet nuances of returning to a familiar yet changed landscape. Marvin Bell's poem offers a profound meditation on the cycles of life, the enduring quest for recognition and achievement, and the deep, sometimes contradictory, currents of longing and belonging that shape our journeys through the worlds we inhabit and return to.


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