Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Edward Hirsch’s "Sortes Virgilianae" draws on the ancient Roman practice of seeking divination through the random selection of passages from Virgil’s Aeneid. The poem reimagines this ritual as a fortune-teller’s cryptic vision, offering a profound meditation on descent, loss, and redemption. Hirsch weaves together classical mythology, existential reflection, and poetic responsibility, creating a layered narrative that explores the challenges of navigating grief and finding meaning in the aftermath of despair.

The poem begins with an enigmatic introduction: the fortune-teller confesses, "I don’t understand, I can scarcely see," immediately establishing the murky and uncertain nature of prophecy. The setting—a platform "somewhere below the ground"—places the subject in a liminal space, evoking the underworld of Virgil’s Aeneid and the mythic descent into darkness. The figure described is "a shadow lost amid shadows," a poetic soul navigating a realm of obscurity and disorientation. The imagery of "watery stairs" and "fetid air" underscores the oppressive atmosphere, while the "fog" further obscures clarity, mirroring the emotional and existential murkiness of grief and loss.

The descent is marked by tentative steps, emphasizing the slow, uncertain progress into the depths. The dark’s "welcome" is both inevitable and ominous, suggesting an embrace that is as much a surrender as a submission. The train "shuddering in the distance overhead" introduces a sense of movement and potential escape, but its inaccessibility heightens the figure’s isolation. The glowing branch "untouched, forgotten" beneath a seat evokes a symbol of life or guidance overlooked amid the shadows, a poignant image of neglected hope or possibility.

The fortune-teller invokes a line from Virgil: "The way downward is easy from Avernus." This reference situates the poem within the mythic framework of the underworld journey, where the descent is natural and effortless, but the return to the living world is arduous and fraught with challenges. The "trouble" of ascending back to "heaven’s air" becomes the central theme, reflecting the difficulty of emerging from despair or reconciling with loss.

The figure’s wandering through a "labyrinth of dead-end corridors and empty tunnels" further emphasizes the disorientation and futility of their journey. The "broken mirrors" and "smudged signs pointing nowhere" suggest a fragmented sense of self and direction, while the "voices echoing like footsteps" evoke the haunting presence of memories or unanswered questions. This imagery creates a space that is both physical and psychological, a metaphor for the inner turmoil experienced in the aftermath of grief.

The fortune-teller’s imperative shifts the poem from observation to prescription. To transcend the shadow realm, the figure must carry back the memory of "your father disintegrating in your arms." This directive ties the descent to a deeply personal and specific moment of loss, anchoring the abstract journey in the visceral reality of grief. The father’s death becomes both a wound and a responsibility, a source of pain that must be transformed into a means of consolation for others. The demand to "bring words that will console others" positions the poet as a mediator between personal suffering and collective healing, emphasizing the redemptive power of language.

The fortune-teller’s final vision offers a glimmer of hope: "stairs leading upward / To summer’s resplendent, celestial blues." This image contrasts starkly with the earlier descriptions of darkness and disorientation, symbolizing the possibility of renewal and transcendence. The journey upward is not just a physical ascent but a spiritual and emotional return to light, life, and beauty. The celestial blues evoke a realm of peace and clarity, a destination that justifies the arduousness of the climb.

Structurally, the poem’s free verse form and flowing syntax reflect the fragmented and uncertain nature of the descent. The absence of stanza breaks mirrors the continuous, unrelenting movement of the journey, while the shifts between description and imperative create a dynamic tension between observation and action. Hirsch’s use of classical references grounds the poem in a mythic tradition, while his vivid and contemporary imagery ensures its resonance with modern readers.

"Sortes Virgilianae" is ultimately a meditation on the poet’s role as a witness to grief and a bearer of meaning. Hirsch’s invocation of descent and return draws on the archetypal journey of the hero, reinterpreting it as an inward struggle to transform personal loss into communal consolation. Through its rich imagery and philosophical depth, the poem captures the universal challenges of navigating despair, the redemptive possibilities of memory and language, and the enduring hope of finding a way back to light.

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