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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"And" by Robert Creeley is a complex narrative poem that weaves together themes of memory, time, and the cyclic nature of life and death. The poem intricately explores the connections between past and present, individual identity, and the familial lineage, encapsulated within a seemingly mundane event—a party. Through this setting, Creeley delves into the deeper layers of human experience, revealing the profound and often hidden currents that underlie our social interactions. The poem begins with an innocuous scene, "A pretty party for people to become engaged in," setting the stage for a social gathering that, on the surface, appears light and celebratory. However, the introduction of the characters, "she was twenty-three, he / was a hundred and twenty-seven times all the times," immediately disrupts the conventional expectations of a party narrative. The ages of the characters, particularly the exaggerated age of the male figure, suggest a metaphorical representation of time itself—its accumulation, its weight, and its repetitive cycles. The phrase "over and over and under and under she went / down stairs, through doorways, glass, alabaster, an iron shovel stood waiting" evokes a journey that transcends the literal movement through a physical space. This descent through layers of material—glass, alabaster, and ultimately to an iron shovel—symbolizes a digging into the depths of personal and collective memory, a journey back through the corridors of one's lineage and history. The act of lifting the shovel "to dig back / and back to mother, father and brother, grandfather and grandmother—" represents a metaphorical excavation into the past, an attempt to unearth and reconnect with the roots and origins that define one's identity. The repetition of "back" emphasizes the relentless pursuit of understanding and connection, a desire to reach beyond the veil of death to touch the lives of those who have come before. The stark conclusion, "They are all dead now," serves as a poignant reminder of the inevitable fate that awaits us all. This line, while final, also suggests a continuity beyond death—a lineage that survives through memory and the stories we tell. The characters at the party, engaged in the act of celebration, become conduits for the past, bearers of the memories and experiences of those who have died. Creeley's style in "And" is characterized by his ability to layer multiple meanings within a concise narrative framework. The poem's structure, with its fluid movement between past and present, and its exploration of deep themes through everyday events, showcases Creeley's skill in capturing the complexity of human emotions and experiences in sparse, evocative language. In essence, "And" is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life, the persistence of memory, and the ways in which we seek to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. Through its vivid imagery and nuanced exploration of time and memory, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own connections to the past and the legacies that shape their identities. Creeley's work, with its depth and subtlety, reaffirms the power of poetry to explore the profoundest aspects of the human condition, using the lens of ordinary events to reveal the extraordinary layers of meaning that underpin our lives.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PREJUDICE by ROBERT CREELEY PIECES OF CAKE by ROBERT CREELEY BALLAD by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY |
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