Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

George Oppen's "Building of the Skyscraper" is a meditation on the intersection of human endeavor, language, and the natural world within the context of modern urban life. Through the imagery of construction and the delicate interplay between words and meaning, Oppen explores the vertiginous experience of living in a world that is both physically and metaphorically elevated, where the foundations of our existence—whether material or linguistic—are often precarious and elusive.

The poem begins with a vivid image: "The steel worker on the girder / Learned not to look down, and does his work." This description of a steel worker, high above the ground, engaged in the dangerous task of building a skyscraper, sets the stage for the poem's exploration of balance, risk, and the necessity of focus. The worker's avoidance of looking down is both a practical necessity to prevent vertigo and a metaphor for the broader human tendency to avoid confronting the depths beneath the surface of our daily lives. The steel worker represents the human drive to build, create, and ascend, even when the risks and potential for disaster are ever-present.

Oppen draws a parallel between the steel worker's experience and the way we handle language: "And there are words we have learned / Not to look at, / Not to look for substance / Below them." Just as the worker avoids looking down, we often avoid scrutinizing the words we use too closely, wary of what we might find if we delve beneath their surface meanings. This suggests a caution or perhaps even a fear of confronting the potential emptiness or instability in the words that structure our understanding of the world.

The poem then introduces the concept of vertigo: "But we are on the verge / Of vertigo." This feeling of dizziness or disorientation serves as a metaphor for the unsettling realization that the foundations we rely on—whether in language, belief, or the physical structures around us—might not be as solid as they appear. Oppen acknowledges the existence of "words that mean nothing," yet contrasts this with the idea that "there is something to mean." This distinction highlights the tension between empty rhetoric and the pursuit of genuine meaning, between the superficial use of language and the deeper truths that poets and thinkers strive to express.

Oppen further develops this theme with the assertion that "It is the business of the poet / 'To suffer the things of the world / And to speak them and himself out.'" This line, likely referencing a quote or a traditional view of the poet's role, emphasizes the idea that the poet's task is not merely to describe or declare truth, but to engage with the world in a profound and often painful way. The poet must confront and endure the realities of existence, and through this suffering, give voice to both the external world and the inner self. This is not an easy task, and it involves grappling with the inherent uncertainties and complexities of life.

The poem shifts focus to a more natural image: "O, the tree, growing from the sidewalk— / It has a little life, sprouting / Little green buds / Into the culture of the streets." This tree, struggling to grow in the midst of the urban environment, symbolizes resilience and the persistence of life even in the most inhospitable conditions. The "little green buds" represent hope, growth, and the natural world's attempt to assert itself within the "culture of the streets," a phrase that evokes the man-made, often harsh, realities of city life. The tree stands in contrast to the steel and concrete of the skyscraper, reminding us that life persists and adapts, even in places dominated by human construction.

The poem concludes with a reflection on history and the passage of time: "We look back / Three hundred years and see bare land. / And suffer vertigo." This final image brings together the themes of the poem, linking the present urban landscape with the past when the land was "bare" and untouched by human development. The vertigo experienced here is both a literal and figurative dizziness, a sense of disorientation caused by the vast changes that have occurred over time. It is a recognition of the distance between the past and the present, and the awareness of how much has been built, altered, and potentially lost in the process.

"Building of the Skyscraper" by George Oppen is a rich, multi-layered poem that explores the complexities of human creation, language, and the natural world within the context of modern urban existence. Through the imagery of construction and the metaphor of vertigo, Oppen invites readers to consider the precariousness of the structures—both physical and linguistic—that we rely on to navigate our lives. The poem is a meditation on the role of the poet, the persistence of life, and the disorienting effects of change and progress, ultimately urging us to confront the depths and uncertainties that lie beneath the surface of our everyday existence.

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