Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Pine: Taste, Touch and Sight" by James Dickey is a vivid and complex poem that delves deeply into the sensory experiences associated with the natural world, particularly focusing on the pine tree as a symbol for broader ecological and existential themes. Dickey uses intense imagery and physical sensations to explore the interaction between the human and the natural, creating a dialogue between the body and the environment.

The first part of the poem begins with a reflection on how nature becomes a part of the self: "You are what you eat and what will flutter / Like food if you turn completely / To your mouth, and stand wide open?" This introduces the idea that one's environment is integrally connected to one's identity, with the ingestion of natural elements (like pine) becoming a metaphor for how deeply nature influences us. The "saliva-gland burns like a tree" suggests a visceral, almost painful, yet vital connection to nature, emphasizing how elemental forces are internalized.

Dickey describes the consumption of nature ("A wafer of bark, another / Needle, bitter rain by the mouthful coming") as an almost sacramental act, evoking the imagery of communion but with a raw, primal twist. The consumption is not just nutritional but transformative, influencing one's progeny as well: "Hunger swirls and slowly down / Showers and are your children / What you eat?" This line queries whether the essence of what one consumes passes on to future generations, suggesting a legacy of both nourishment and the 'bitter' truths of existence.

The stanza ends with a question of transformation and legacy, wondering what characteristics will be passed to the next generation and how those traits will manifest: "What green of horror / And manna in the next eye / To come from you? And will he whistle / From head to foot?"

The second part of the poem shifts to a more tactile experience, describing the physical interaction with the pine ("More hands on the terrible rough"). This section explores pain and endurance ("More pain but more than all / Is lodged in the leg-insides") and the struggle and resilience in grappling with nature or life's challenges.

The imagery of riding and swaying with the pine ("Rise and ride / Like this and wear and ride / Away with a passionate faceful / Of ply and points") evokes a dynamic, almost violent dance with nature, where the individual both endures and enjoys the encounter. The description is both a battle and an embrace, suggesting a complex relationship with nature that is both nourishing and harsh.

Dickey describes a cyclical and transformative process, where interaction with the pine leads to a rebirth or discovery of a new form and essence ("The whole thing turns / On earth, throwing off a dark / Flood of four ways / Of being here"). The reference to "almighty InI / Glory" at the end signifies a culminating moment of unity and enlightenment, possibly alluding to Rastafarian philosophy where "InI" represents the divine presence within every individual. This could suggest that through deep, physical engagement with the world, one touches the divine or discovers an essential truth about existence.

"Pine: Taste, Touch and Sight" by James Dickey is a richly textured poem that uses the motif of the pine to explore profound questions about human existence, our connection to nature, and the ways in which the natural world shapes and transforms us. Through this engagement, Dickey proposes that we come to understand deeper truths about ourselves and our place in the world.

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