Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sante Fe Trail" by Barbara Guest is a journey through time and space, encapsulating a blend of historical resonance and personal introspection. The poem is rich with imagery, drawing on the historical context of the Santa Fe Trail while infusing it with contemporary and timeless elements that explore themes of separation, discovery, and the struggle against natural forces.

The poem opens with the line, "I go separately," immediately establishing a tone of individuality and isolation. This phrase repeats throughout the poem, reinforcing the speaker’s sense of solitary travel and perhaps existential separation. The mention of "the sweet knees of oxen" that have "pressed a path for me" connects the present journey to the historical migrations and the laborious journeys of pioneers and traders who traversed the Santa Fe Trail. This path is laden with the "ghosts with ingots" and the sacrifices they made, burning their "bare hands" in their quest for fortune and survival.

Guest’s vivid imagery continues with the description of "dungaree darkness with China stitched," invoking a sense of ruggedness and the blend of cultures that met on this trail. The "westerly winds and the traveler's checks" speak to both the natural forces and the economic aspects of the journey, while "the evensong of salesmen" adds a lyrical, almost religious dimension to the commercial endeavors.

The repetition of "I go separately" emphasizes the personal nature of this journey amidst the historical and communal backdrop. The phrase "It is the wind, the rubber wind" conveys a tactile sense of the journey’s harshness and the resilience required to endure it. The act of brushing teeth in a way station symbolizes a brief moment of normalcy and personal care in the midst of the harsh journey. The question, "What forks these roads? Who clammers d'er the twain?" suggests a sense of confusion and uncertainty, echoing the decisions and crossroads faced by travelers on the trail.

Guest’s use of natural imagery is poignant, particularly in the lines, "What murmurs and rustles in the distance / in the white branches where the light is whipped." This evokes a scene of eerie stillness and anticipation, where the natural world is both a participant in and an observer of the journey. The mention of dunes and the motor panting like a forest brings a blend of modernity and nature, merging the historical trail with contemporary experiences.

The poem takes a surreal turn with the lines, "where owls from their bandaged eyes / send messages to the Indian couple," blending mythic elements with historical reality. The owls, often symbols of wisdom and mystery, connect the past and present, and the Indian couple represents the original inhabitants of the land. The phrase "Peaks have you heard?" personifies the mountains, as if they are sentient witnesses to the journey and the history of the land.

The speaker’s refrain of going separately is juxtaposed with a sense of communal experience as they reach "the arithmetics" and are "partially quenched." This suggests moments of understanding and relief amidst the ongoing struggle. The "lost trapper’s voice" adds a haunting dimension, a reminder of those who have ventured before and faced similar challenges.

Guest concludes the poem with an invocation, "O mother of lakes and glaciers, save us gamblers / whose wagon is perilously rapt." This plea to a maternal figure of nature encapsulates the vulnerability and desperation of the travelers. The use of "gamblers" underscores the risk and uncertainty inherent in the journey, and the wagon, a symbol of both mobility and burden, is "perilously rapt," suggesting a mix of awe and danger.

In "Sante Fe Trail," Barbara Guest masterfully weaves together historical references, vivid natural imagery, and a deeply personal narrative to create a multifaceted exploration of journey and identity. The poem captures the essence of travel not just as a physical act, but as a profound and introspective experience, highlighting the interplay between past and present, solitude and community, and nature and human endeavor.

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