Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Wagoner’s “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi” is a sardonic ode to the capriciousness of fate, embodied in the form of a burlesque-like, anthropomorphized figure of Fortune. The title, Latin for "Fortune, Empress of the World," is borrowed from the medieval poem Carmina Burana, which famously explores the unpredictability of fate. Wagoner’s modern interpretation reimagines Fortune as an almost vaudevillian, tawdry spectacle—simultaneously alluring and grotesque. Through vivid imagery and biting humor, the poem critiques humanity?s reliance on chance and its desperate pursuit of fortune’s favor.

The opening lines invoke Fortune with theatrical flair: “Lady of the turning numbers, our gaudy wheeler, aloft and upstage.” Here, Fortune is cast as a performer, perched above the audience like a diva. The imagery of “turning numbers” evokes gambling and lotteries, emphasizing the randomness of her influence. Wagoner’s tone is irreverent, even mocking, as he calls her to descend from her lofty stage and engage with her worshippers. This theatrical framing positions Fortune not as a goddess to be revered but as a spectacle to be consumed.

The invocation intensifies with the description of Fortune as “Vagina Dentata Immaculata, Matrix of the Plebian Darkness.” This phrase juxtaposes the primal and the sacred, blending menace and allure. The reference to vagina dentata—a folkloric symbol of female power and danger—underscores Fortune’s dual nature: she is both giver and taker, nurturing and destructive. The added epithet Immaculata ironically sanctifies her, suggesting that even her darker attributes are essential and unassailable. The invocation of the “Plebian Darkness” situates Fortune as a force that governs the masses, a reflection of humanity’s shared vulnerability to chance.

Fortune’s embodiment as a showgirl with “tassels whirling clockwise and counterclockwise / From the peaks of your breasts” transforms her into a figure of both ridicule and fascination. This burlesque imagery amplifies the poem’s critique of the gaudy, superficial allure of chance and luck. Wagoner’s language is intentionally over-the-top, creating a grotesque and exaggerated figure that mirrors humanity’s absurd devotion to the whims of fate.

The poem’s depiction of Fortune’s followers paints a bleak picture of humanity: “Rebounding from slumps and falling from the windows of wallets...bearing their jiggers and bitters, the upright citizens.” These lines evoke desperation and defeat, showing how people cling to Fortune despite her fickleness. The imagery of “jerks of spastics” and “faces hanging knock-eyed from their skulls” highlights the physical and emotional toll of living under Fortune’s sway. Wagoner presents these followers as both pitiable and absurd, their unwavering devotion rendered meaningless by Fortune’s indifference.

As the poem progresses, the tone becomes increasingly satirical. Fortune is addressed as “our stitch in the side of time” and “our beautiful grounds for divorce.” These phrases emphasize the pain and disruption she causes while also mocking the idea of relying on her. The line “The show must never go on / Without you” underscores humanity’s dependency on Fortune, even as her influence is chaotic and destructive. Wagoner’s juxtaposition of reverence and ridicule captures the paradox of Fortune’s role in human life: she is both despised and indispensable.

Structurally, the poem mirrors the chaos it describes. The free verse form allows Wagoner to shift between tones and images with an almost frenetic energy, reflecting the unpredictable nature of Fortune herself. The language is rich with sensory detail and metaphor, from the “patchily-lit, rag-baggedly / Hunching earth” to the “falling waters” that “sing your praise out of porcelain.” These details create a vivid and surreal landscape that underscores the absurdity of humanity’s relationship with Fortune.

The closing lines reinforce the cyclical and inescapable nature of Fortune’s influence: “Great punchboard we gloss over and prize open / Forever and ever.” The image of the “punchboard” evokes both gambling and futility, suggesting that no matter how often humanity engages with Fortune, the results are always the same. The phrase “forever and ever” echoes liturgical language, ironically elevating Fortune to a position of eternal power while simultaneously highlighting the emptiness of such devotion.

“Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi” is a masterful exploration of the human condition, using wit and satire to expose the absurdity of relying on chance and fate. Wagoner’s vivid imagery and irreverent tone invite readers to question their own relationship with fortune and the forces beyond their control. By casting Fortune as both a grotesque showgirl and a cosmic force, the poem captures the tension between humanity’s hope for control and its ultimate vulnerability to the whims of chance.

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