Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Message" by Fred Chappell delves into the transformative power of revelation and the profound impact it can have on the human soul. The poem begins with a vivid portrayal of an angelic visitation, an event both awe-inspiring and terrifying. This angel, a "messenger," arrives not in peace but in a form that is almost violent in its intensity, "a swordblade of unbearable energies," altering the very nature of the atmosphere around him. This entrance is not just a physical event but a metaphysical upheaval, marking the beginning of a profound change.

Chappell uses the metaphor of a "marauding star" to illustrate the overwhelming and destructive nature of the message being delivered. This celestial intruder, with its "tear of sorrow," represents a force so vast and alien that it threatens to overshadow the sun itself, symbolizing the magnitude of the revelation and its capacity to eclipse all prior understanding. The imagery here suggests not just a physical but an emotional and spiritual cataclysm, as the individual confronts truths so vast and deep they seem to belong to another universe altogether.

Yet, amidst this depiction of overwhelming power and the subsequent enumeration of the world's forces and creatures, there lies a stark contrast: the vulnerability of the human being at the center of this cosmic event. This man, "alone and naked," embodies the fragility of human existence when faced with the divine or the universal. He is overwhelmed, forced to "choose among sorrows the one that destroys him most," a line that speaks to the existential choice inherent in understanding and accepting such a profound revelation.

However, the poem does not conclude on a note of despair but transformation. The man, through his encounter with the divine message, undergoes a metamorphosis that elevates him to "a truer dimension of event." This change is not merely physical but encompasses his entire being, "head to foot, taproot to polestar." He becomes attuned to "wide horizons unknown till now," suggesting a newfound comprehension of the universe and his place within it. The imagery of breathing "a new universe" and the drifting "blinding whirlpool galaxies" that "begin to converse" around him evokes a sense of unity with the cosmos, a harmonization of the individual soul with the vast, ongoing dialogue of creation.

"Message" by Fred Chappell is a profound exploration of the intersection between the divine and the human, the cosmic and the personal. Through its vivid imagery and transformative narrative, the poem captures the essence of revelation: the initial terror, the existential challenge, and ultimately, the transcendent awakening to a broader understanding of existence. Chappell's work invites readers to consider the moments of revelation in their own lives, the points at which they have been called to ascend to a higher understanding, and the ways in which these moments have reshaped their perception of the world.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=35584

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