Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Guido, I' Vorrei Che Tu e Lapo Ed Io" by Robert Creeley reflects on the themes of desire, memory, and the transformative power of art, all while paying homage to the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. The title itself, reminiscent of Dante's famous wish involving himself, Guido Cavalcanti, and Lapo Gianni, serves as a point of departure for Creeley's exploration of the interconnectedness of life, art, and the passage of time.

The poem begins with a yearning for a transcendental escape alongside Guido and Lapo, symbolizing a desire to transcend the confines of the present reality into a realm where the essence of their connection—rooted in love and artistic pursuit—could flourish. "Guido, / I would that you, me & Lapo...had got to the reaches / were out of this / of some other wood." This longing for an alternative reality "out of this" reflects a deep dissatisfaction with the current state of existence, where the potential for genuine connection and artistic fulfillment seems stifed.

Creeley then delves into the concept of "Deadness," which he identifies with echo and memory. In this context, deadness represents the lingering aftereffects of lost potential, where the vibrancy of life and creativity has been reduced to mere echoes of what they once were. The repetition and parallel structure in "deadness is echo / deadness is memory" emphasize the pervasive nature of this loss, highlighting how the absence of vitality haunts the present.

The poem suggests that this state of deadness results in a petulance, a stubborn resistance that distorts and diminishes the creative spirit. "Petulance / is force so contested." Here, Creeley touches on the idea that the creative impulse, when stifled or twisted by external forces or internal disillusionment, becomes a source of frustration and conflict, losing its inherent vitality and purpose.

The concluding lines, "They have twisted / the meanings &t manner / the force of us out of us left us the faded," lament the erosion of authentic expression and connection. This twisting of meanings and manners signifies a corruption or dilution of the original intentions and values that bind individuals together in artistic and personal fellowship. The reference to music and the "sound of the reaches / the actual wood" evokes a longing for a return to a more genuine, unmediated experience of art and life, where the essence of creativity is not lost to the distortions of memory or the deadening effects of time and circumstance.

"Guido, I' Vorrei Che Tu e Lapo Ed Io" is a reflective piece that weaves together the themes of artistic integrity, the fleeting nature of human connections, and the struggle against the forces that diminish the vibrancy of life and creativity. Through his evocative use of language and imagery, Creeley invites the reader to consider the ways in which art and memory intersect, shaping and sometimes shadowing our understanding of ourselves and our connections with others. The poem stands as a testament to the enduring challenge of preserving the vitality of the creative spirit in the face of time's inexorable march.

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