Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Passages. Enthralld" by Robert Duncan is a deeply introspective and evocative poem that explores the interconnectedness of personal identity, language, and the natural world. Through a blend of philosophical reflection and lyrical description, Duncan delves into the profound impact of myths, stories, and the environment on the formation of self and the articulation of experience.

The poem opens with a contemplation of myths and stories, described as both "wish full" and "dread full," suggesting that these narratives are imbued with both desire and fear, attraction and caution. This dual nature of stories highlights their power to captivate and influence, shaping our perceptions and understanding of the world. Duncan's mention of "last things anciently 'ours'" evokes a sense of a shared historical and cultural heritage that persists through time, enchanting and binding us within its narrative scope.

The focus on "this place, this hour" brings the abstract into the immediate, emphasizing the specific moment and location as sites of profound engagement and meaning-making. Duncan explores how individual identity ("Who 'I' is") is sounded out through resonances, or the echoes of one's presence and actions in the world, suggesting that identity is both a declaration and a discovery, continually narrated and negotiated through interaction with others and the environment.

The poem weaves a dialogue with philosophical ideas, specifically referencing Wittgenstein on the nature of language and perception. This inclusion underscores Duncan's interest in the limits and possibilities of language to capture and convey personal experience. The question "How did we learn 'I dreamt so and so'?" points to the learning of self-expression as an interpretative and communal act, shaped by and shaping the communal linguistic practices.

Duncan's imagery of nature—the trees swaying and talking, the light shimmering in the leaves—serves as a metaphor for the human condition: influenced by unseen forces (like the wind), yet vibrant and communicative. The description of the trees dancing with the wind parallels the human endeavor to find coherence and meaning in life's chaos, highlighting our deep connection to and reflection of the natural world.

The intimate scene of two bodies "stretcht upon each other" after making love illustrates a moment of deep personal connection and harmony, further exploring the theme of tuning—aligning oneself with another, and by extension, with the rhythms of the universe. This personal moment is both a culmination and a beginning, as Duncan notes his age and the renewed sense of youth and possibility that intimate connection can bring: "How young my sixty-one years are in me!"

The closing lines celebrate the immediacy and vibrancy of life as experienced in a singular moment—"just this afternoon, just this hour." Yet, there is also a recognition of the broader, almost cosmic scale of existence as life "races in the blue of the sky." This juxtaposition of the immediate and the eternal, the personal and the universal, encapsulates Duncan's poetic exploration of how we find ourselves and our stories within the grand narrative of life.

Overall, "Passages. Enthralld" is a lyrical reflection on the ways in which our identities are formed and expressed through our engagements with myth, nature, and each other. It challenges the reader to consider how deeply we are intertwined with the stories we tell and the world we inhabit, and how our understanding of self is continuously crafted within this dynamic interplay.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...