Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s "Mary's Fancy" is a reflection on the overwhelming and varied sensory experiences of the modern world, particularly focusing on sound and its pervasive presence in our lives. Through the interplay of natural and artificial sounds, Creeley examines the ways in which we are surrounded by constant noise, much of it unnoticed yet deeply embedded in our everyday environment. The poem subtly touches on the complexity of perception, where layers of sound create a world that is both immediate and intangible, shaping our experience of reality.

The poem opens with the line, "The world pours in on wings of song." This image introduces the central theme of sound entering and filling space. The phrase "pours in" suggests an overwhelming influx, as if the world’s sounds are flooding the listener’s consciousness. The "wings of song" metaphor evokes a sense of beauty and fluidity, as if sound itself is alive and constantly in motion. This line sets up the idea that the world is full of sounds that move through space, shaping the atmosphere around us.

The next line, "The radio says whatever told to," introduces the first artificial sound, the radio. The radio represents controlled, directed sound—broadcasts designed to convey specific messages. The line suggests that the radio, unlike the organic sounds of nature, merely repeats what it is programmed to say, highlighting the contrast between the natural and the mechanical. The radio becomes a symbol of the artificial sounds that permeate modern life, contributing to the cacophony of the world. However, even though the radio follows instructions, it is still part of the broader soundscape that surrounds the listener.

The poem then shifts to the internal world of the speaker: "but in mind, air of another kind, it holds a place in the air's space." This line introduces a contrast between the external sounds of the world and the internal experience of sound within the mind. The "air of another kind" suggests that the mind processes and interprets sounds differently, creating its own unique space where sound is held and understood. The phrase "it holds a place in the air's space" reflects the idea that sound occupies both physical and mental space, shaping not only the external world but also the listener’s inner experience. This line suggests that sound, though intangible, becomes part of the fabric of our perception and memory.

Creeley then moves into a more detailed description of the various sounds: "Sounds now are so various, a pig, goat's bleat. The burros somewhere." Here, the poem returns to natural sounds, focusing on the animals that populate the landscape. The sounds of the pig, the goat, and the burros evoke a rural or pastoral setting, reminding the reader of the simplicity and diversity of natural noises. These animal sounds contrast with the earlier mention of the radio, reinforcing the theme of the coexistence of natural and artificial sounds in the modern world. The inclusion of animals like the burros, whose location is "somewhere," emphasizes the idea that not all sounds are directly perceivable—some are distant, faint echoes of the world beyond immediate perception.

The line "The air hums, tick of a watch, motor's blur outside," introduces the mechanical sounds that pervade everyday life. The "tick of a watch" and the "motor's blur" represent the subtle, almost unnoticed sounds of technology that constantly accompany us. These sounds are quieter than the animal noises but equally omnipresent. The "blur" of the motor suggests an indistinct, ongoing hum that fades into the background of consciousness, reinforcing the idea that many of the sounds we hear are not consciously recognized, yet they still form part of the ambient noise that surrounds us.

The poem closes with the lines, "a sequent birds' tweeting. All / the ambient movement neither seen nor felt but endlessly, endlessly heard." The image of the birds tweeting introduces a delicate, natural sound, emphasizing the continuity of sound in the environment. The word "sequent" suggests that these sounds come in a sequence, one after the other, further highlighting the constant flow of noise that fills the air. The final lines, "ambient movement neither seen nor felt but endlessly, endlessly heard," encapsulate the poem’s meditation on the pervasive nature of sound. Sound, unlike visual or tactile stimuli, is something that we cannot see or touch, yet it is "endlessly heard." This repetition of "endlessly" reinforces the idea that sound is a continuous presence, always surrounding us even when we are not actively listening.

Structurally, "Mary's Fancy" follows Creeley’s characteristic use of short, enjambed lines that create a sense of fluidity and movement. The lack of punctuation allows the poem to flow seamlessly from one sound to the next, mirroring the way sounds blend into each other in the real world. The poem’s fragmented structure also reflects the nature of perception, where sounds are fleeting and often overlap, creating a complex and layered auditory experience.

Thematically, the poem explores the relationship between sound, perception, and space. Creeley contrasts natural and artificial sounds, suggesting that both contribute to the auditory landscape that shapes our experience of the world. The poem also delves into the idea of sound as something intangible yet ever-present, emphasizing how sound occupies space and influences our internal and external realities. By focusing on the variety and persistence of sound, Creeley invites the reader to reflect on the ways in which we are constantly immersed in an auditory world, even when we are not consciously aware of it.

In conclusion, Robert Creeley’s "Mary's Fancy" offers a meditation on the sensory experience of sound and its role in shaping our perception of the world. Through vivid imagery and a focus on both natural and artificial sounds, the poem captures the complexity of the auditory environment and the ways in which sound permeates both physical and mental space. The poem’s exploration of sound as a constant, often unnoticed presence invites readers to consider the richness of the auditory landscape that surrounds them, and the subtle ways in which it influences their experience of reality.

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