Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Memo from the Desk of Wallace Stevens" by Dick Allen is a playful and imaginative poem that captures the spirit of Wallace Stevens, an American Modernist poet known for his exploration of imagination and reality. Allen's poem is styled as a whimsical request from Stevens, asking for a postcard from exotic locales, which speaks to the broader theme of the desire for escape and the power of the imagination to transport one beyond the mundane confines of daily life.

The poem opens with a direct address, creating an intimate and conversational tone that immediately draws the reader into Stevens' world. The mention of "Chile or Tunis" sets the stage for a global journey, emphasizing the poet's yearning for sights and experiences far removed from his own reality.

Allen's use of language is both vivid and playful, with phrases like "frightfully luscious" and "smashing for nightmares or psalm-sings," showcasing a delightful blend of the beautiful and the bizarre. This duality reflects Stevens' own poetic style, which often juxtaposes contrasting images and ideas to explore the complexity of perception and imagination.

The request for postcards featuring "flamingos and cats in the jungles" with "faces like moochers" further illustrates the whimsical and surreal nature of the desired escape. These images are not just exotic; they are imbued with a sense of the fantastical, inviting the reader to envision a world that transcends ordinary experience.

Allen's mention of "Florida" and its "Keys with their looping toward Cuba" grounds the poem in a specific American landscape, one that Stevens himself was fond of. This nod to Stevens' own geography serves as a reminder of the poet's real-life context while simultaneously highlighting the contrast between his physical surroundings and the far-flung destinations of his imagination.

The poem concludes with a return to Stevens' perspective, as he awaits the arrival of the postcard in "Hartford," ready to "sweeten the world with my blackberry mind." This final line encapsulates the transformative power of poetry and imagination, suggesting that even the most ordinary places can be infused with wonder and beauty through the creative act.

"Memo from the Desk of Wallace Stevens" is a tribute to the imaginative spirit of Wallace Stevens, capturing his whimsical quest for beauty and transcendence. Through its playful language and evocative imagery, the poem celebrates the capacity of the mind to explore worlds beyond the here and now, inviting readers to embark on their own imaginative journeys.

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