Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Postcard from Lisbon" by Joseph Brodsky is an evocative and thought-provoking poem that brings into focus a wide array of human experiences and historical moments. The poem acts like a kaleidoscopic lens, capturing fragments of what could have been-monuments and events that were never made or realized. It presents a sort of alternative history, one that might have happened but never did, making the reader contemplate the myriad possibilities and missed opportunities that make up the tapestry of human existence.

The opening lines set the tone, referencing "Failed bloody wars" and "phrases, swallowed up in the moment of arrest." The imagery is potent, delving immediately into the missed milestones of human conflict and communication. The poem doesn't aim to romanticize these "never to have been made" phenomena but instead offers them as points for contemplation, provoking thoughts on the nature of existence and the narrow margins by which history unfolds.

The allusions in the poem range from the mythological to the artistic to the political. We have references to San Sebastian, a Christian martyr, and a "Creator engine with fuel/Waste memories," potentially hinting at the sacrifices and failures that propel human invention. There's also a nod to "Nezavisimostyam" (independence), possibly hinting at the transient and fragile nature of political freedom. Such diversity in allusion adds depth to the poem, painting a comprehensive picture of human striving and shortcomings across multiple domains of life.

The poem also delves into the realm of abstract concepts, like that of a "comet, flown past Earth," symbolizing perhaps the missed opportunities and unrealized potentialities that buzz around us, just beyond our reach. The theme of unrealized potential is recurrent, tied up with the "discovery/Infarktiki - unknown part/of light," indicating the limits of human knowledge and understanding.

Then there is the notion of 'the provisional,' a state of temporariness represented by "Provisional Soichi/in borode prisoner Ideas authorities/and vegetation." This segment captures the fluctuating nature of authority and ideologies, emphasizing how transient these constructs can be.

The closing lines of the poem focus on the individual's experience, moving away from the societal and historical to the deeply personal. There is an emphasis on the things that individuals may never touch or hold, such as "money" or "the reproductive organ," perhaps representing material and biological longings that go unfulfilled. Yet there is a semblance of hope or consolation in the "amount of green leaves," suggesting that even in the midst of unrealized potentials and incomplete histories, there is room for growth and renewal.

In summary, "Postcard from Lisbon" is a complex tapestry of what could have been but never was. Its richness lies in its ability to make the reader ponder the multifaceted experiences of both the individual and society at large. Through a catalog of unrealized monuments and events, Joseph Brodsky presents a compelling commentary on the contingencies of history, the impermanence of human endeavor, and the bittersweet beauty of things left undone.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...