Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mountain Time" by Kathryn Stripling Byer juxtaposes the slow, rhythmic life of the mountains with the rapid changes and despair of the wider world, as symbolized by the dismissive prediction of a poet laureate about the future of poetry. The poem begins with a reflection on the isolation and timelessness of mountain life, where news and messages traverse the winding, narrow roads with delay, embodying the region's detachment from the hustle and immediacy of modern life. This isolation brings into question the reliability of information from the outside world, suggesting a skepticism towards external proclamations and a deeper reliance on local wisdom and traditions.

The poem then shifts to recount the words of the poet laureate, who, overwhelmed by the chaos and violence of her surroundings in the nation's capital, predicts the obsolescence of poetry by the year 2000. Her despair is contextualized by her environment, where the immediacy of threat and the accumulation of weapons overshadow the seemingly delicate and enduring nature of poetry and books, which begin to appear as relics of a bygone era.

Byer contrasts this bleak outlook with the story of Delphia, a woman from the mountains who embodies resilience, continuity, and the nurturing of culture through teaching children to read and quilting. Delphia's legacy, passed down through generations, serves as a counter-narrative to the poet laureate's prophecy, emphasizing the enduring value of personal stories, craftsmanship, and the oral tradition in preserving and perpetuating culture.

The quilt becomes a central metaphor in the poem, representing the laborious and careful preservation of culture and history through the piecing together of stories, memories, and lessons from the past. The act of quilting, with its "blind stitch that clings to the edges of what's left," symbolizes the tenacity of mountain people in holding together their heritage amid the fragmentation and loss brought by time and change.

Byer suggests that despite predictions of obsolescence and the fading of traditions, there is a perpetual call to beginnings, to the foundational acts of creation and instruction that keep cultures alive. "Mountain Time" is a call to remember and value these acts of preservation and to recognize the power of local knowledge and tradition in sustaining communities through uncertain futures. The poem itself acts as a testament to the resilience of poetry and storytelling, challenging the notion of their extinction and celebrating their capacity to connect us to our roots and to each other.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yellow_Shoe_Poets/2D6aqhb651oC?q=BACA+%22MEN+LATE+AT+NIGHT+COOK+COFFEE+IN+RUSTY+CANS%22&gbpv=1&bsq=MOUNTAIN%20TIME#f=false

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