Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s poem "The Statue of St. Francis" from “A Coney Island of the Mind” (Poem 6) paints a vivid picture of an ironic and somewhat surreal scene in San Francisco during the installation of a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. Through a blend of humor, satire, and lyrical imagery, Ferlinghetti explores themes of devotion, spirituality, and the intersection of the sacred and the profane.

The poem begins with the workers "putting up the statue / of Saint Francis / in front of the church / of Saint Francis / in the city of San Francisco." This repetition establishes a rhythm and emphasizes the location's significance. The poem focuses on a "little side street / just off the Avenue / where no birds sang," a curious omission given Saint Francis’s iconic association with birds. Despite the absence of birds, "the sun was coming up on time / in its usual fashion / and just beginning to shine / on the statue of Saint Francis."

Ferlinghetti then describes the people gathered around the installation. He contrasts "a lot of old Italians" with "a lot of young reporters / in button-down clothes," creating a contrast between tradition and modernity. The old Italians represent a nostalgic connection to the cultural heritage of Saint Francis, while the young reporters symbolize the detached curiosity of contemporary society. The reporters "were taking down the words / of one young priest / who was propping up the statue / with all his arguments."

Throughout the scene, "no birds sang / any Saint Francis Passion," emphasizing the ironic absence of birds that would normally surround the saint. Saint Francis, with "his arms outstretched / to the birds which weren’t there," becomes a poignant symbol of unfulfilled spirituality.

The surreal quality of the poem is heightened by the introduction of "a very tall very purely naked / young virgin / with very long and very straight / straw hair." She wears "only a very small / bird’s nest / in a very existential place." Her presence is strikingly incongruous in this setting, and her nudity contrasts with the religious solemnity of the statue’s installation. She "kept passing thru the crowd / all the while / and up and down the steps / in front of Saint Francis," moving with an air of detachment while "her eyes downcast all the while / and singing to herself."

This enigmatic figure represents an intrusion of the profane into the sacred. The bird's nest, placed "in a very existential place," symbolizes both the absence of actual birds and the spiritual emptiness that permeates the scene. Her continuous movement around the statue emphasizes the disconnection between the ideals represented by Saint Francis and the contemporary world.

In "The Statue of St. Francis," Ferlinghetti juxtaposes the sacred and the profane to critique the commercialization and superficiality of modern religious practices. The poem’s satirical tone and surreal imagery challenge the reader to question the sincerity of contemporary spirituality while highlighting the timeless idealism embodied by Saint Francis. Ultimately, the poem becomes a reflection on how spiritual values can be overshadowed by the complexities and contradictions of modern life.

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