Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth's poem "Vestigial" delves into the concept of remnants from our evolutionary past and how these ancient traces manifest in our present existence, both physically and metaphorically. The poem's three sections — "Appendix, Coccyx, Pineal Eye," "The Adventures of John Dee," and "Big Bang" — explore these vestiges through various lenses, weaving together biology, history, and cosmology to form a cohesive meditation on human continuity and transformation.

In the first section, "Appendix, Coccyx, Pineal Eye," Goldbarth enumerates the physical remnants that humanity carries from its evolutionary history. The appendix, a vestigial organ for digesting cellulose, and the coccyx, remnants of a tail, serve as physical reminders of our animal ancestry. The poet’s vivid imagery — such as the "fingery fraction of a rabbit's commodious sack" and the "slinky bone-links of a tail" — grounds these abstract concepts in tangible reality. Additionally, the poem touches on the vestigial traits within our brains, such as the "lizard's third, glazed eye," or the pineal gland, hinting at the deeper, more primal layers of our consciousness that remain active even when our "outer brothers drowse." This section evokes a sense of continuity with the past, suggesting that even as we evolve, we retain echoes of our earlier forms, a theme further highlighted by the references to parasitic twins and vestigial physical traits.

The second section, "The Adventures of John Dee," shifts focus to the historical figure of John Dee, an Elizabethan astrologer and mage. Goldbarth juxtaposes Dee's mystical pursuits with the nascent scientific methods of his time, presenting Dee as a vestige of an older world where magic and science coexisted. Dee's efforts, such as creating "moonlight towers" to transmit war news and studying ostrich egg shells painted with celestial maps, illustrate the blend of scientific inquiry and mystical thinking that characterized his era. Dee's contemplation of a dinosaur bone, which he believed to be a relic of a time when "stature matched faith and accomplishment," underscores the poem’s theme of longing for a past unity of knowledge and belief. This section reflects on the transition from a mystical understanding of the world to a more empirical approach, marking a significant shift in human history.

The final section, "Big Bang," broadens the scope to a cosmological level, exploring how our fascination with ancient structures like Stonehenge and Egyptian monuments ultimately reflects a search for connection and meaning. Goldbarth suggests that these ancient artifacts resonate with us because they represent a time when humanity was whole, before being "exploded from our wholeness and our source." The reference to Plato's idea of humans as originally being single-bodied beings who rolled "breezily over the world" emphasizes this theme of fragmentation and the desire to return to a state of unity. The poet's personal reflection on walking in darkness, yearning to "align with something bright," connects the cosmic scale of the Big Bang to individual human experience, highlighting our intrinsic need for connection and understanding.

Goldbarth's poem, through its exploration of vestigial traits, historical transitions, and cosmic reflections, presents a rich tapestry of human continuity and transformation. The interplay between the physical remnants of our evolutionary past, the historical figures who straddled the line between mysticism and science, and the cosmic perspective of our existence creates a profound meditation on what it means to be human. The vestiges we carry, whether in our bodies, our histories, or our collective consciousness, are not merely remnants but vital threads that connect us to our past and shape our present and future.

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