Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Reading Genesis to a Blind Child" by James Dickey is a profound exploration of communication, perception, and the ineffable experiences shared between a father and his blind son. The poem delves into themes of creation, interpretation, and the sensory world as the father attempts to convey the biblical story of Genesis through tactile and descriptive means, reflecting on the limitations and power of language and understanding.

The poem opens with the father positioning himself as a guide and interpreter, acknowledging the unique perspective his blind son possesses: "That you walk with an untold sight / Beyond the best reach of my light." This line emphasizes the child's distinct way of perceiving the world, suggesting that his blindness offers a different kind of vision, one that perhaps surpasses visual sight in depth and insight.

As the father reads the story of Genesis, he uses physical objects to help his son visualize the narrative: "The beasts come under your hand / As into the Ark, from a land / That a cloud out of Hell must drown." These lines show the father’s effort to make the biblical creatures tangible for the child, using items that the child can touch and feel, thereby translating the visual and conceptual into the tactile.

The father’s struggle to bridge the gap between his world of sight and his son's world of touch is poignant. He bends his arm to simulate the serpent, a key figure in the Genesis story, and uses a pin to represent the serpent’s tooth. This adaptation showcases the father's deep desire to connect with his son and to make the biblical stories accessible and meaningful to him.

The poem also reflects on the nature of evil and knowledge, with the father pondering the impact of his teachings: "That you may take hold of the curve / Of round, warm skin that must serve / For evil." This interaction symbolizes the imparting of knowledge about good and evil, mirroring the biblical narrative where knowledge comes with both power and burden.

As the father continues, he questions the limits of his understanding and the paradoxes of creation: "And can you tell me how I have made your world, yet know / No more than I have known?" This line underscores the existential dilemma of creators and educators, who can introduce ideas and concepts but cannot fully control how these are perceived or understood.

Toward the end of the poem, the father's reflections turn more philosophical and spiritual, contemplating the divine and the human roles in creation. He sees his son's grace as a form of forbidden yet profound knowledge, akin to the biblical Eden, filled with innocence and potential. The father’s sense of separation from both the divine act of creation and from fully accessing his son's inner world is palpable.

Ultimately, "Reading Genesis to a Blind Child" is not just about reading a sacred text; it's about attempting to transcend the barriers of perception and communication. It's about striving to connect deeply with another human being by reinterpreting the world through different senses. The poem beautifully captures the challenges and beauty of teaching, the depth of parental love, and the profound mysteries of understanding and interpretation. Through Dickey's thoughtful and sensitive portrayal, the reader is invited to reconsider the nature of knowledge, perception, and connection in their most elemental forms.

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