Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Time to Hear Ourselves Think" by Dick Allen is a contemplative piece that delves into the modern human condition, characterized by a constant barrage of noise and distraction that often prevents us from engaging in deep reflection or even hearing our own thoughts. The poem elegantly captures the yearning for a return to a quieter, more introspective state where the mind's inner workings can be observed and appreciated.

Allen begins by distinguishing between the act of thinking, which is incessant and unstoppable, and the ability to actually hear and attend to those thoughts. He likens the latter to tangible, mechanical processes—waterwheels turning, steam irons hissing, gears changing, and a ticking clock—evoking a sense of the rhythmic and physical nature of thought that is often lost in the noise of contemporary life.

The imagery of being in "muffled slow motion," feeling with our hands rather than our minds, suggests a disconnect from our internal processes. Thoughts and concepts become places we're always leaving, rather than destinations we arrive at and explore. This disconnection implies a hurried, superficial engagement with our own mental and emotional landscapes, as if we're constantly in transit, never settling long enough to understand where we are or what we're experiencing.

However, the poem then shifts to a moment of stolen quietude, a deliberate pause that allows the speaker to begin hearing the subtle, numerical underpinnings of reality. This transition from the chaotic to the orderly, from noise to a kind of mathematical silence, suggests an underlying structure to our experiences that can only be discerned when we create space to listen.

Allen's mention of "little formations of numbers" and the sounds of pigeons and the speaker's own heartbeat emphasizes a newfound awareness and connection to both the external world and the internal self. This awareness brings with it a sense of discovery but also trepidation, as the speaker contemplates the vastness of what lies within us—scattered, wounded, or dead—that we have been unable to hear or attend to due to the constant external din.

Through "Time to Hear Ourselves Think," Allen not only critiques the relentless pace and noise of modern life but also offers a meditative call to find moments of silence. In these moments, we might reconnect with the deeper aspects of ourselves and the world around us, uncovering the richness of thought and experience that we've been too distracted to notice. The poem is a reminder of the importance of introspection and the value of listening not just to the world but to ourselves, to hear the quiet but profound workings of our own minds.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=39654

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