Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Peter Gizzi’s "Will Call" is a contemplative exploration of the ephemeral nature of the present moment, the interconnection between place and time, and the silent stories embedded within our daily lives. Through its evocative imagery and reflective tone, the poem delves into the transient and often unnoticed details that shape our existence.

The poem opens with a striking observation: "There is an order to the skyline. Beyond this a ragged blank." This line establishes a contrast between the structured, human-made skyline and the undefined, empty space beyond it. The "ragged blank" suggests a sense of uncertainty or potential that lies just beyond the familiar, hinting at the unknown or the uncharted aspects of life.

Gizzi continues with a reflection on the fleeting nature of the present: "The present evaporates / into day. Settles about shoulders and cries." This imagery captures the way moments slip away, merging into the continuum of day, while also evoking a sense of burden or melancholy that settles on the speaker like a tangible weight. The use of "cries" personifies the present, suggesting an emotional resonance that lingers even as time moves forward.

The ordinary sounds of daily life punctuate this transient moment: "The phone rings. A car honks. Others / pass in the outline of slate." These lines ground the poem in the everyday, emphasizing the mundane details that often go unnoticed but constitute the fabric of our experiences. The "outline of slate" evokes a sense of solidity and permanence, contrasting with the ephemeral nature of the present moment.

Gizzi reflects on the nature of an average day: "It was an average day. / An arrangement of place. A state of report / or a state of grace." This juxtaposition of the mundane and the transcendent suggests that within the ordinary, there is a potential for moments of grace and insight. The "state of report" implies a factual, detached observation, while the "state of grace" suggests a deeper, more profound understanding.

The poem then shifts to a reflection on the passage of time: "For centuries weeds have hidden it. / Now autumn." This line evokes the cyclical nature of time and the way history and nature intertwine to obscure and reveal different aspects of our world. Autumn, a season of change and decay, symbolizes both an end and a beginning, highlighting the constant flux of life.

Gizzi emphasizes the role of silence and perception: "Silence is what we make / of eyes, trees and growing vine. It pierces." This suggests that silence is not merely the absence of sound but a space of contemplation and meaning. The imagery of "eyes, trees and growing vine" emphasizes the interconnectedness of perception and nature, suggesting that what we see and experience shapes our understanding of silence.

The poem concludes with a poignant image: "And these are the stories they will bring in boxes." This final line evokes a sense of legacy and memory, suggesting that the seemingly mundane details of our lives are the stories that will be passed down and remembered. The "boxes" symbolize the way these stories are collected and preserved, hinting at the physical and emotional containers that hold our histories.

"Will Call" by Peter Gizzi is a reflective and evocative poem that captures the transient nature of the present moment and the profound meaning embedded within the ordinary details of daily life. Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to consider the interplay between time, place, and memory, and the silent stories that shape our understanding of the world. Gizzi’s work highlights the beauty and complexity of the everyday, offering a meditation on the ways in which we perceive and make sense of our experiences.

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