Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

George Palmer Garrett Jr.'s poem "Postcard" is a brief yet evocative meditation on the creative process, renewal, and the intimate connection between the poet and their work. Through simple, resonant imagery and a reflective tone, the poem explores the anticipation of a fresh start, the purity of a blank page, and the deeply personal act of naming and claiming one's creative output.

The poem opens with a promise, a declaration of intent: "One of these times very soon / I will have and hold a day / blank as a new pillowcase / or a field of fresh snow." This imagery evokes a sense of potential and purity. A "day blank as a new pillowcase" suggests the comfort and possibility of rest, while a "field of fresh snow" brings to mind a pristine, untouched landscape waiting to be shaped. These images are rich with connotations of new beginnings and the quiet beauty of something yet to be realized.

Garrett continues with a vision of what he will do with this anticipated day of blankness: "And then and there once again / I will lay down my head, I will / make angels in the wet snow." The act of laying down one's head can be read as a moment of surrender to inspiration, of allowing oneself to rest and dream. The image of making angels in the snow is both playful and sacred, suggesting a return to childlike wonder and a desire to leave an imprint on this blank canvas. The "wet snow" implies that this act of creation is grounded in the reality of the world, where even moments of beauty are touched by the elements, by impermanence.

The poem then shifts to the act of writing: "I will write words words words, / as you do, and will sign my name." The repetition of "words words words" emphasizes the physical and almost compulsive act of writing, of filling the blank space with language. The phrase "as you do" creates a connection between the speaker and the reader (or perhaps another writer), suggesting a shared experience of creation. The act of signing one's name is a declaration of ownership and identity, a way of claiming the poems as part of the self.

In the final lines, Garrett likens the process of naming his poems to naming children: "naming my new poems like children, / calling them home from the dark." This metaphor emphasizes the personal and almost parental relationship the poet has with his work. Just as a parent names a child and brings them into the world, so too does the poet bring forth and nurture his creations. The idea of "calling them home from the dark" suggests that these poems, like children, are brought from a place of mystery or unconsciousness into the light of understanding and articulation.

"Postcard" is a poem about the creative process and the intimate relationship between the poet and his work. George Palmer Garrett Jr. captures the anticipation and joy of a fresh start, the act of creation, and the deep connection between a writer and his words. The imagery of blankness, snow, and the naming of poems creates a rich tapestry of renewal and personal expression, inviting the reader to consider their own moments of creativity and the ways in which they bring their own "children" into the world.

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