Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ode on the Facelifting of the Statue of Liberty" by Edward Dorn is a critical reflection on American history through the lens of drug use, juxtaposing the renovation of a national symbol—the Statue of Liberty—with the enduring and pervasive role of drugs in shaping American culture and society. Written to coincide with the statue's restoration in 1986, the poem uses the occasion to explore deeper themes of addiction, hypocrisy, and the American pursuit of relief and escape.

Dorn begins by declaring that "America is inconceivable without drugs / and always has been," setting a provocative premise that challenges the idealized view of American history. He cites the Boston Tea Party as one of the first acts of American independence, framing it as a rejection of one drug (tea) in favor of others more profitable to the colonies, like tobacco. This interpretation casts the foundational acts of American history in a different light, suggesting that economic and substance-driven motives have always been a part of the national character.

The poem continues by tracing the role of various substances throughout American history. Tobacco, once the cornerstone of Virginia’s economy, is now disdained; sassafras was sought after by early settlers as a panacea; morphine, isolated during the Civil War, transformed medical practices related to pain and amputation. Each example serves to underscore how drugs have been intertwined with economic, social, and medical developments in America.

Dorn then shifts focus to contemporary times, noting the hypocrisy of rock stars who publicly oppose drug use while privately consuming large quantities. This critique extends to the broader culture's dependence on pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, painting a picture of a nation in constant pursuit of pharmacological solutions to physical and existential pain. The reference to interns as premier drug users among a "moralistic nation" further emphasizes the widespread and normalized nature of drug use across all levels of society.

The poet cynically observes that America’s historical quest for rejuvenation and escape from mortality, symbolized by Ponce de León's search for the Fountain of Youth, has devolved into a "frantic tilt with death and boredom." This pursuit, Dorn suggests, is more profitable and pervasive in modern Florida, known both for its elderly population and as a center for illicit drug trade, than traditional agriculture in places like Iowa.

Dorn concludes with a reflection on the American cultural landscape as a "cultural patchwork fit for a fool," a place where even drug stores—a symbol of both legitimate and problematic consumption—are ironically and tellingly named. This ending encapsulates the poem's critique of American society's reliance on and relationship with drugs, presenting it as an ingrained yet often unexamined element of national life.

Through "Ode on the Facelifting of the Statue of Liberty," Edward Dorn offers a stark, unflinching look at the contradictions and challenges of American history and identity. The poem uses the metaphor of the Statue of Liberty's renovation to suggest that beneath the surface improvements, the foundational issues and dependencies of American society remain unchanged and unaddressed.

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