Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Jung Says the Soul is Round (Tompkins Square Park)" by Denise Duhamel is a reflective and vivid poem that intertwines the philosophical concept of the soul with the tangible, everyday sights of Tompkins Square Park. Through careful observation and lyrical prose, Duhamel explores the idea proposed by Carl Jung that the soul is round, finding this shape repeated in both harmonious and discordant objects around her, weaving a tapestry of imagery that reflects the complexity and depth of human experience.

The poem opens with the direct statement, "Jung says the soul is round," which Duhamel immediately juxtaposes with images of round objects that carry significantly different connotations. From the innocuous bird bath to the violent implications of handcuffs and brass knuckles, the roundness suggests a universality in form but a diversity in function and meaning. This sets the stage for exploring these round shapes within the context of Tompkins Square Park, a place marked by its own complex history of beauty and strife.

Duhamel masterfully shifts the focus from the absence of flowers to the presence of joy, symbolized by the sun and the simple pleasure of a gray man holding an orange. This transition from what is missing to what is present encapsulates a theme of finding beauty and hope in unexpected places. The description of the orange's round pockmarks further emphasizes the theme of roundness and its pervasive presence, linking back to the soul's metaphorical shape.

As the poem unfolds, Duhamel draws attention to past summers marked by riots, contrasting them with the peaceful scene of a child reading a library book about a round pie. This image serves as a poignant symbol of innocence and curiosity, with the round pie and its fork marks evoking the spiritual and meditative pattern of a mandala, suggesting a search for meaning and completeness.

The use of the hula hoop, another round object, dancing on the hips of a young girl, enriches the narrative with a sense of movement and life. Duhamel describes it as "a ring around her rhythm of Saturn," beautifully tying the physical to the celestial, reinforcing the theme of universality and the cyclical nature of life.

The poem also touches on elements of urban life with mentions of parabolic trash receptacles and the omnipresent round sun, casting its relentless glow over the park. This constant reference to round objects culminates in the image of a spidery umbrella, a "floppy parasol" that has transcended its practical use to become a protective shade for a "fair round and round-freckled redhead," adding a personal and human element to the scene.

Overall, "Jung Says the Soul is Round (Tompkins Square Park)" is a meditation on the interconnectedness of life's elements, both physical and spiritual, seen and unseen. Duhamel uses the motif of roundness to weave a narrative that reflects on the soul's journey, finding its echo in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of daily life. The poem invites the reader to observe the world through a lens that recognizes depth and significance in the commonplace, urging a deeper contemplation of the soul's landscape.

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