Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Suite for Augustus: Augustus Observes the Sunset" by Rita Dove is a vivid and richly textured poem that combines elements of the everyday with the cosmic, casting an ordinary scene in a dramatic, almost otherworldly light. The poem is filled with intense imagery that brings together the domestic and the sublime, reflecting on the passage of time and the poignant, often overwhelming, beauty of the natural world.

The poem opens with "July. The conspiracy of colors—" immediately setting the scene in the heat of summer with an array of vibrant, almost jarring images: "Ketchup, marshmallows, the tub of ice, / Bacon strips floating in pale soup." This assortment presents a tableau of American summer foods, suggesting a scene of domestic leisure, yet described in terms that imbue them with a sense of active, almost unsettling, vibrancy. The ordinary items are transformed through their vivid colors, contributing to a sense of abundance and sensory overload.

The description of the sunset as "The sun, like a dragon spreading its tail, / Burns the blue air to ribbons" elevates the scene from the mundane to the mythic. The sun is personified as a powerful, mythical creature, its movement through the sky an aggressive, fiery display that rends the calm of the blue sky. This intense imagery reflects the transformative power of nature and the way it can dramatically alter our perceptions of familiar surroundings.

Moving from the cosmic to the personal, Dove then shifts the focus to the human figure in this scene, Augustus, who is described in a moment of introspective solitude: "Eastward, the corn swelling in its sockets, / A wall of silence, growing. / What are you doing in your own backyard / Holding your coat in your arms?" This questioning hints at themes of alienation and introspection, as Augustus stands alone, seemingly out of place even in his own backyard, enveloped by the growing silence and the fecundity of nature around him.

The urgency of the scene intensifies with the exclamation, "There's so much left to do!-You pack." This line suggests a sudden shift in Augustus's state of mind, from observation to action, perhaps a recognition of time passing or duties calling. The juxtaposition of his personal urgency with the description of a leisurely or festive meal ("Above spareribs and snow-puffed potatoes") underlines a contrast between human concerns and the relentless, indifferent progression of nature.

The final image of the sky shaking "like a flag" ties back to the earlier description of the sun's movement and continues the theme of nature's overwhelming power and beauty. It suggests both celebration and a warning, a symbol of both festivity and the tumultuous, ever-changing nature of the world.

Overall, "Suite for Augustus: Augustus Observes the Sunset" is a meditation on the juxtaposition of human life against the backdrop of the natural world. Through this tableau, Rita Dove explores themes of isolation, the passage of time, and the urgent, sometimes harsh beauty of the universe. The poem invites readers to consider how moments of contemplation can abruptly transition into action, and how the ordinary can suddenly appear extraordinary through the lens of our emotions and the environment.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Collected_Poems_1974_2004/fRyZCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

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