Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley';s "Five Variations on Elation" explores the fleeting, elusive nature of elation through a series of fragmented, minimalist reflections. Each of the five stanzas offers a distinct yet interconnected perspective on this sudden emotional uplift, capturing both its intensity and its transience. In typical Creeley fashion, the poem is spare, its language pared down to the essentials, yet rich with emotional nuance. The variations shift between personal and abstracted experiences of elation, making the poem a meditation on the delicate balance between exaltation and the inevitable return to reality.

The first stanza introduces the feeling of elation as a "sudden / uplift," setting the tone for the rest of the poem. The rush of joy, or pride, is expressed as something that is brought out, as if this feeling had been hidden or dormant, waiting for the right moment to surface. The choice of the word "elation" immediately conveys a sense of buoyancy and heightened emotion, while the phrase "pride’s brought out!" suggests that elation may be tied to a sense of personal accomplishment or self-worth. The use of punctuation here—a rare exclamation mark—adds to the sense of excitement and intensity. Even "ambiguity," often a source of confusion or uncertainty, is "haughtily exalted" in this moment of uplift, suggesting that when one is elated, even unclear or contradictory emotions can feel glorious and empowering. The stanza concludes with the phrase "oh / rushed, raised spirit," capturing the sense of a spirit that is suddenly and unexpectedly elevated, rushing upward in a burst of energy and joy.

In the second stanza, Creeley deepens the connection between elation and the unexpected. The speaker’s heart "leaps up" in response to something sudden and common, echoing the sentiment of William Wordsworth’s famous line, "My heart leaps up when I behold / A rainbow in the sky." However, whereas Wordsworth’s "rainbow" is a natural wonder, Creeley’s source of elation seems to be found in the everyday, the "common." The juxtaposition of "the sudden / as in the common" suggests that elation can arise not just from extraordinary events but also from the ordinary moments of life, where the suddenness of the feeling surprises the speaker and lifts them out of the mundane. This connection between the ordinary and the extraordinary is a recurring theme in Creeley’s work, where everyday experiences are often charged with deeper emotional resonance.

The third stanza shifts the focus to pride, described as walking "above common lot," reinforcing the earlier idea of being "lifted up / and out." The imagery of walking above the common lot suggests a sense of elevation or transcendence, as if elation allows the speaker to rise above the routine struggles and concerns of life. There is a sense of being "exalted," lifted beyond the ordinary, which ties back to the earlier exploration of how even the "common" can produce moments of profound emotional uplift. The word "pride" here carries a dual meaning, referring both to personal pride and to the elevated feeling of elation itself. The stanza suggests that elation involves a temporary escape from the everyday, a moment of transcendence that allows the speaker to feel "above" the ordinary concerns of life.

The fourth stanza introduces a note of caution or reflection, as the speaker acknowledges the brevity of elation: "His elation was brief?" The question mark introduces uncertainty, as if the speaker is questioning whether this moment of joy could last. The line "Brought back to earth" suggests that the elation has ended, that the speaker has returned to a more grounded, perhaps more sober state of mind. Yet, there is a recognition that "for a time / it was otherwise." Even though the elation has faded, the speaker acknowledges that there was a period when things were different, when the feeling of uplift and transcendence was real and powerful. This stanza reflects on the transitory nature of elation, which, like all emotions, eventually gives way to a return to normalcy. However, the memory of that brief exaltation lingers, even after the speaker has come back down to earth.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the theme of memory and the lasting impact of elation, even after it has faded. The phrase "Faded but unforgotten" captures the way that the feeling of elation, though no longer present, remains imprinted in the speaker’s mind. This sense of lingering memory is reinforced by the repetition of the word "once," as the speaker recalls the moments of being "uplifted," "unsure," "proud," and "inside once out." These repetitions suggest that the experience of elation, while fleeting, leaves a lasting impression, shaping the speaker’s sense of self and their emotional landscape. The alternating feelings of being "uplifted" and "unsure" reflect the complexity of elation, which can be both exhilarating and destabilizing. The final image, "inside once out," suggests a reversal or inversion, as if the speaker has moved between different emotional states, both inward and outward, during their experience of elation.

Overall, "Five Variations on Elation" is a meditation on the nature of joy, pride, and transcendence, as well as the inevitable return to earth after moments of emotional uplift. Creeley’s minimalist style allows him to explore these themes with precision and subtlety, using fragmented language and abrupt shifts in tone to reflect the fleeting, elusive quality of elation. The poem captures both the intensity of the feeling and the way it fades, leaving behind only traces and memories of the brief moments when the spirit was lifted up. By focusing on the interplay between the sudden and the common, Creeley suggests that elation is not confined to extraordinary events but can arise from the simplest of experiences, surprising us with its power and leaving a lasting mark even after it has passed.

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