Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"MY/MY/MY," by Charles Bernstein, unfolds as an exhaustive litany of possessions and attributes, each prefaced by the possessive pronoun "my." This repetition serves not only as a structural backbone but also as a thematic exploration of self-identity, materialism, and the human condition's inherent contradictions. Bernstein's poem, through its relentless enumeration, delves into the depths of personal and collective consciousness, reflecting on what we claim as our own and what, in turn, claims us.

The poem's opening, inspired by a quote from Swami Satchidananda, immediately situates the reader at the intersection of the mundane and the spiritual, suggesting that the path to enlightenment is cluttered with the detritus of our possessions and obsessions. This juxtaposition sets the stage for a meditation on the distance between our material attachments and our higher aspirations.

As the poem unfolds, the sheer variety of items listed—from the tangible ("my pillow," "my house") to the abstract ("my hopelessness," "my longing"), and from the personal ("my tooth") to the relational ("my friend")—paints a portrait of a life defined as much by its acquisitions as by its internal states. This cataloging acts as a mirror, reflecting the fragmented selves we present to the world, comprised of what we own, what we feel, and what we desire.

Bernstein's choice to include both the mundane ("my spatula," "my sock") and the profound ("my despair," "my love") underscores the poem's commentary on the human tendency to define existence through ownership and attachment. The repetition of "my" becomes a mantra, a hypnotic invocation that both asserts the self and questions the very nature of selfhood in a materialistic society.

The poem's form—lacking punctuation and traditional structure—mirrors the stream-of-consciousness approach to identity and possession. This formlessness suggests the fluidity of identity and the arbitrary boundaries between the self and the external world. Bernstein challenges the reader to consider the ways in which language shapes our understanding of ownership and self, and how the accumulation of possessions and experiences delineates the contours of our lives.

Moreover, the poem engages with themes of solipsism and existential inquiry. The accumulation of "my" prefixed items and concepts highlights the isolation inherent in individual perspective, even as it seeks to bridge the gap between the self and the other. This tension between the individual and the collective, between isolation and connection, pulses through the poem, inviting readers to reflect on their own attachments and the role these attachments play in their understanding of self and world.

"MY/MY/MY" also serves as a critique of consumer culture and the commodification of life experiences. By cataloging a life through possessions and personal attributes, Bernstein subtly critiques the ways in which capitalism and consumerism infiltrate our sense of self and our relationships with others. The poem's exhaustive list becomes a metaphor for the insatiable desire for more, revealing the emptiness that often lies at the heart of this pursuit.

In the end, Bernstein's poem is a profound meditation on the nature of existence, identity, and the quest for meaning in a material world. Through the simple yet powerful repetition of "my," the poem invites readers to contemplate the things they hold dear, the constructs of their identity, and the ultimate futility of finding fulfillment in material possession alone. "MY/MY/MY" is not just a catalog of the self but a call to examine the foundations upon which we build our lives and to seek a deeper understanding of what it means to truly possess and be possessed.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...