Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Howard Moss’s poem “Great Spaces” offers a deeply contemplative reflection on the human condition, the passage of time, and the search for meaning amidst the vastness of existence. The poem navigates through personal longing, the stark realities of urban life, and the philosophical musings that arise from these experiences.

The opening lines express a desire for spiritual reverence and connection: “I would worship if I could / Man, woman, child, or dog.” This yearning for worship suggests a deep need for connection and transcendence, a way to strip away the burdens of existence. The imagery of stripping “the desert from my back” and spilling “an ocean from each eye” conveys a profound sense of release and cleansing, as if the speaker seeks to wash away the dryness and emptiness of life with an overwhelming flood of emotion and renewal.

The reference to saints who “trust to luck” and “sit for years under a tree” evokes a sense of asceticism and patience. It suggests a desire to emulate these figures who find peace and enlightenment through enduring faith and detachment from worldly concerns. This longing contrasts sharply with the speaker’s current reality.

The poem shifts to a vivid description of the speaker's present environment: “I live now in a dirty city / That prowls the sky and is my shade.” The city is depicted as a predatory, oppressive force that casts a constant shadow over the speaker's life. The “low, uneasy light” that gathers there symbolizes a dim, subdued existence, lacking the brightness and clarity found in the “great spaces and great times” of the past.

Moss delves into the concept of memory and the erosion of significant moments: “I forget / What months and years once swam through me / As I walked into their great rooms, / Forgotten rooms, forgotten scenes.” This passage reflects the inevitable fading of memories and the diminishing impact of once-important experiences. The “great rooms” and “forgotten scenes” suggest a past filled with grandeur and significance, now reduced to faint recollections.

The poem then introduces a powerful symbol of permanence and mystery: “And out in space a statue stands / That will not gloss its meaning.” The statue represents a fixed, immutable presence in the ever-changing flow of time and experience. It stands as a testament to something enduring and inscrutable, its meaning resistant to simple interpretation.

Near the statue, another figure appears, described as “wild, unshorn,” and lifting its head to speak. This figure embodies a raw, untamed aspect of humanity, perhaps representing the primal urge to seek meaning and articulate existence. The figure’s declaration, “Nothing is unwilling to be born,” serves as a profound philosophical statement. It suggests an inherent drive within all things towards creation and existence, a fundamental willingness to emerge and take form despite the uncertainties and challenges of life.

In “Great Spaces,” Howard Moss masterfully juxtaposes the vast, impersonal aspects of the universe with the intimate, personal struggles of the individual. The poem’s imagery oscillates between the physical and the metaphysical, grounding the reader in the dirty, oppressive city while also lifting them into the boundless expanse of memory and existential reflection. Through this intricate tapestry of images and themes, Moss explores the tension between the desire for spiritual transcendence and the harsh realities of modern life, ultimately affirming the resilient, ever-present drive towards existence and meaning.

The poem's conclusion leaves the reader with a sense of quiet resolve and acceptance. The statue and the wild figure symbolize the enduring quest for understanding and the continual process of being and becoming. Moss’s “Great Spaces” is a contemplative journey that invites readers to reflect on their own lives, the spaces they inhabit, and the timeless, unyielding search for purpose and connection in a world that is both vast and intimate.

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