Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Lamantia's poem "America in the Age of Gold" is a dense and richly allusive work that explores themes of American identity, cultural memory, and the intersection of nature and human history. The poem's rapid shifts in imagery and tone, along with its extensive references to both mythological and historical figures, create a tapestry that reflects the complexity and contradictions of the American experience.

The poem begins with a reflection on the nature of poetry and its place in the modern world: "This one gives out he thinks poetry’s at his beck and call / magic though proves it otherwise / even if adhered ‘spiritually’." Lamantia immediately sets up a tension between the poet's aspirations and the unpredictable nature of inspiration and creativity. The "soul whoppers gleam like solar rain" suggest the powerful, almost divine potential of poetry, contrasted with the mundane reality of "golden automobiles in the muse’s eye."

Lamantia then shifts to a critique of contemporary culture, invoking images of "spectral Demo rotten mythologies" that "stifle the air." This imagery suggests a society haunted by its own corrupted myths and legends, unable to breathe freely under the weight of its past. The "thunders of the external world internalize" hints at the profound impact of external events and forces on the individual's inner life, a recurring theme in the poem.

The poet's contemplation turns to geography and memory, invoking a litany of places and historical moments: "always the future ruins of Coit Tower Manhattan African cities / From this north my head is full of you, Sur America." Here, Lamantia blends personal and collective memory, spanning the American continent and beyond. The references to "Sor Juana sailing the cloud" and "meeting John Donne in Arizona" create a surreal fusion of different historical and cultural contexts, suggesting a timeless, borderless exploration of identity.

The poem's central section delves into the natural world, invoking a sense of mystical geography: "There are many centers of mystic geography / but the great Black V of gold flashing in the meadow Bird unknown / opening the air like all the lore of the chants." Lamantia celebrates the beauty and mystery of nature, imbuing it with spiritual significance. The imagery of birds, trees, and landscapes intertwines with references to indigenous cultures and legends, such as "the home of Obsidian Man" and "the Karuk of my dreams who dance the world renewal."

In the concluding sections, Lamantia reflects on the destructive forces at play in both nature and human history: "the chatter of world destruction below above the telepathic line / the minor key to the weather." The poem acknowledges the presence of violence and decay, yet it also holds onto a vision of transcendence and continuity. The references to painters like Cole and Quidor, along with the invocation of "optic revolutions," suggest a historical continuity of artistic vision that seeks to capture the sublime.

Lamantia's invocation of "Fata Morgana of the desolate strait / a hundred-mile wind and waves of violent ocean" brings the poem to a dramatic climax, blending mythic imagery with a sense of impending catastrophe. Yet, even in this moment, there is a sense of resilience and hope: "There you drown send the death and with lumens belabor the straits surfaced to / Shiva / She angelic tongue or not."

The poem ends with a meditation on the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of myth and legend: "That these spirits are here now with the clunk of material letters / the yellow-billed Magpie in the dry wind." Lamantia suggests that the myths and legends of the past continue to shape the present, and that the natural world remains a source of inspiration and renewal. The poem's final lines evoke a sense of ongoing struggle and creation, with the poet positioned as both witness and participant in the unfolding drama of American history and identity.

"America in the Age of Gold" is a complex, multi-layered work that requires careful reading and contemplation. Lamantia's dense imagery and rapid shifts in tone and perspective create a rich tapestry that reflects the contradictions and complexities of the American experience. Through his allusions to mythology, history, and nature, Lamantia explores the ways in which the past continues to shape the present, and the enduring power of poetry to capture and transform that experience.

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