Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Upon Meeting Don L. Lee, in a Dream" by Rita Dove is a surreal and vividly imaginative poem that delves into the subconscious meeting with the poet Don L. Lee, known also as Haki R. Madhubuti. The poem explores themes of transformation, confrontation with the past, and the intense emotional landscape that can be revealed through dreams. Dove's imagery is striking and evocative, creating a dreamscape where symbolic interactions unfold with deep emotional resonance.

The poem opens with the image of Lee approaching "with lashless eyes," suggesting a vision stripped of barriers, where seeing is unfiltered and perhaps harsh. The "yellow half-shadows" in which he moves could imply a realm of ambiguity and partial illumination—appropriate for the dream world and the half-understood truths it might contain.

The stanza that describes Lee's past—"From his mouth I know he has never made love / To thin white boys in toilet stalls"—is stark and provocative, confronting and dismissing potential stereotypes or assumptions about his experiences and identity. This assertion sets the tone for a poem that challenges and defies easy categorization or superficial understanding.

The presence of women in robes among black trees, watching and chanting, adds a ritualistic element to the dream, emphasizing the ceremonial or significant nature of this encounter. Their actions—chanting and stamping, stretching beaded arms—suggest a form of homage or supplication, perhaps acknowledging Lee's importance as a cultural figure while also marking his isolation within the scene.

The interaction between the speaker and Lee intensifies when Lee attempts to reflect on the past ("Seven years ago..."), only to be cut off by the speaker's insistence on the present ("Those years are gone—What is there now?"). This dismissal of the past triggers a dramatic transformation in Lee: his eyes burst into flame, caviar is embedded like buckshot in his teeth, and his hair falls out in clumps. These transformations could symbolize the painful, destructive effects of confronting or being forced to confront one's past, as well as the violent renewal that can come from such confrontation.

The dream's landscape continues to morph as "The music grows like branches in the wind," an image that conveys organic growth and a sense of natural expansion, possibly representing the evolving nature of artistic or poetic expression. Meanwhile, the speaker's reaction—to lie down chuckling as the grass curls around—is one of detachment and amusement, contrasting sharply with Lee's anguish and tears of iodine.

As the poem concludes, the singers, who had been a grounding presence, float away on "brown paper wings," leaving Lee in his grief and transformation. This departure could signify the fading of traditional supports or structures as new, personal revelations take hold.

Overall, "Upon Meeting Don L. Lee, in a Dream" by Rita Dove uses the dream motif to explore profound themes of identity, memory, and artistic legacy. The poem is rich with symbolic imagery and emotional depth, offering a layered and complex reflection on the interactions and transformations that define us.

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

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