Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Wallace Stevens? "Pleasures of Merely Circulating" is a whimsical meditation on movement, repetition, and the underlying patterns of existence. The poem delights in circularity, exploring the interplay between the cosmic, the mundane, and the unknowable. Through its rhythmic language and looping structure, Stevens captures the paradox of meaning found in repetition, suggesting that the act of "going round" itself may be sufficient to create a sense of satisfaction or wonder.

The opening lines establish a playful, cyclical motion: "The garden flew round with the angel. / The angel flew round with the clouds." This initial image is one of harmony and interconnectedness, where elements of nature and the divine engage in a circular dance. The repetition of "flew round" reinforces the poem?s thematic focus on the rhythm of perpetual motion, emphasizing the endless cycles of the world. The imagery evokes a sense of dynamism, as if the universe itself participates in a choreographed pattern, continually in motion yet never arriving at a final destination.

Stevens? use of repetition—"And the clouds flew round and the clouds flew round"—mirrors the content of the poem, creating a verbal echo of the circularity it describes. The redundancy is not tiresome but rather hypnotic, drawing attention to the pleasure inherent in the act of recurrence. This repetition suggests that meaning may arise not from the destination or outcome but from the experience of motion itself. By framing movement as a central motif, Stevens invites readers to consider the beauty of transience and the joy of existing within cycles that lack resolution.

The second stanza shifts from celestial imagery to an earthy, enigmatic question: "Is there any secret in skulls, / The cattle skulls in the woods?" Here, Stevens introduces a darker, more introspective element, contrasting the ethereal flight of the angel and clouds with the grounded stillness of skulls. The skulls, symbols of mortality and mystery, seem to suggest a hidden knowledge or truth. Yet, the question remains unanswered, reinforcing the poem?s overarching ambiguity. The juxtaposition of movement (the angel, clouds) and stasis (the skulls) highlights the tension between life?s perpetual cycles and the inevitability of death.

The drummers in black hoods add an eerie, ritualistic layer to the poem: "Do the drummers in black hoods / Rumble anything out of their drums?" The image evokes a scene of somber ceremony, where sound and rhythm serve as a form of communication or expression. Yet, Stevens leaves the purpose of their drumming unclear, suggesting that their actions, like the circular flight of the clouds, may lack explicit meaning. Instead, the act of drumming itself becomes significant, emphasizing the theme of motion and rhythm as ends in themselves.

In the final stanza, Stevens introduces a mundane yet puzzling observation: "Mrs. Anderson’s Swedish baby / Might well have been German or Spanish." This seemingly trivial statement underscores the arbitrariness of identity and categorization, hinting at the fluidity and randomness of the human experience. The baby?s nationality is inconsequential in the grand scheme, much like the identities of the angel, clouds, or skulls. The observation suggests that human distinctions are part of the broader cycle of life, existing within the same circular framework as the rest of the poem.

The closing lines, "Yet that things go round and again go round / Has rather a classical sound," encapsulate the poem?s central idea. Stevens elevates the act of circularity to the realm of the "classical," implying that repetition possesses an inherent elegance or universality. The phrase acknowledges the timelessness of cycles, whether in nature, human behavior, or cosmic patterns. By framing circularity as a source of pleasure, Stevens rejects the notion that life must have a linear progression or ultimate purpose to be meaningful.

Stevens? "Pleasures of Merely Circulating" celebrates the beauty of cyclical motion and the satisfaction found in repetition. Through its playful language and rhythmic structure, the poem transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, inviting readers to embrace the simplicity and wonder of life?s perpetual cycles. In doing so, Stevens affirms that the act of "going round" is itself a source of joy, a reminder that meaning can be found in motion, rhythm, and the interconnectedness of all things.

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