Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth’s poem “Imps” juxtaposes the historical with the contemporary, exploring the timelessness of human struggle, the search for meaning, and the ways in which people externalize their internal conflicts. Through this rich tapestry of imagery and narrative, Goldbarth delves into the nature of self-expression, cultural change, and the unchanging human propensity to blame external forces for personal failures and disturbances.

The poem opens in a medieval scriptorium where Brother Ambrosio, a monk-copyist, laboriously transcribes religious texts. His work is described with a sense of meticulousness and devotion, highlighting the physical and spiritual dedication required. The line, “For every line, / he believes, he’s forgiven a sin,” suggests the deep connection between his labor and his faith. This imagery places us in a world where every action is imbued with religious significance, contrasting starkly with the modern scenes that follow.

Goldbarth then shifts to a modern setting, specifically a daytime talk show where a former priest and a former nun discuss their unconventional relationship with a former creator of tourist ashtrays. This scene, rife with the banalities and sensationalism of contemporary media, exemplifies the shift from communal religious devotion to individual self-expression and the culture of confession. The characters’ convoluted explanations for their behaviors reflect a broader societal trend of attributing personal actions to external factors, such as upbringing or societal conditions. This shift from internal reflection to external blame underscores a cultural transformation from medieval to modern sensibilities.

The poem’s commentary on the “culture of blame” is further illustrated through various absurd and poignant examples: a man attributing his pedophilia to a lesbian aunt, a woman blaming her robbery on water contamination, and a man losing his job due to his Scandinavian heritage. These examples highlight how modern individuals often seek to externalize their guilt and responsibility, a stark contrast to the medieval belief in personal sin and spiritual redemption.

Goldbarth uses vivid imagery to critique this externalization. The description of “sci-fi-style mind parasites” feeding off brain blood evokes a grotesque, dystopian vision of humanity burdened by unseen forces. This image resonates with the medieval belief in imps and devils as external causes of misfortune and sin. Brother Ambrosio’s struggles with sleep and fleas, attributed to imps and devils, parallel the modern examples of people attributing their actions to external influences.

The poem’s historical references are enriched with details, such as the scriptorium’s marginal doodles and exorcisms found on parchment scraps. These elements provide a window into the daily lives and inner worlds of medieval monks, showing their attempts to make sense of their hardships through both faith and creativity. The charming doodles and exorcisms represent their coping mechanisms, just as the contemporary characters on the talk show use their narratives to make sense of their lives.

Goldbarth’s personal anecdote about his friend Jess, who suffers a mental breakdown, ties the historical and contemporary threads together. Jess’s belief that he is hunted by “hounds from the moon” echoes Brother Ambrosio’s imps and devils, illustrating how the human mind continues to externalize internal turmoil, whether through medieval demonology or modern psychiatric explanations.

In “Imps,” Goldbarth masterfully weaves historical and contemporary narratives to explore the enduring human tendency to externalize internal conflicts. By juxtaposing the devout labor of medieval monks with the sensational confessions of modern individuals, he critiques the shift from internal reflection to external blame. The poem suggests that, despite advancements in understanding and technology, the fundamental human need to make sense of suffering and failure remains constant, manifesting in different forms across time. Through vivid imagery and rich historical detail, Goldbarth invites readers to reflect on the ways we all seek to explain and cope with the imps that haunt our lives.

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