Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Mark Jarman's "Unholy Sonnet 13" is a reflective piece that captures a moment of youthful exuberance and sensual pleasure, juxtaposed with a later contemplation of spirituality and the presence of God. Through vivid imagery and contemplative musings, Jarman explores themes of hedonism, memory, and the search for meaning in the details of past experiences.

The poem opens with a striking image: "Drunk on the Umbrian hills at dusk and drunk / On one pink cloud that stood beside the moon." This line immediately immerses the reader in a scene of intoxication, not only from alcohol but also from the beauty of the natural landscape. The repetition of "drunk" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the experience, suggesting a loss of inhibition and a heightened sense of presence.

Jarman continues to build on this imagery: "Drunk on the moon, a marble smile, and drunk, / Two young Americans, on one another." Here, the moon is personified as a "marble smile," adding a sense of timelessness and serenity to the scene. The young couple's intoxication with each other highlights the intense, all-consuming nature of their connection, which seems to eclipse everything else.

The poem then poses a rhetorical question: "Who needed God? We had our bodies, bread, / And glasses of a raw, green, local wine." This line underscores the completeness of their earthly pleasures, suggesting that their physical and sensory experiences were sufficient to fill their lives with meaning and joy at that moment. The mention of "raw, green, local wine" adds a rustic and authentic quality to the scene, grounding it in the specific context of the Umbrian hills.

As the poem progresses, Jarman reflects on the passage of time and the shift in his perspective: "And why do I ask now? / Because I’m older and I think God stirs / In details that keep bringing back that time." This introspective turn reveals a yearning for deeper understanding and the recognition that the vivid details of past experiences hold a lasting significance. The mention of God "stirring" in these details suggests that the divine can be found in the memories and sensory impressions that continue to resonate over time.

The final lines of the poem bring the reflection full circle: "Details that are just as vivid now— / Our bodies, bread, a sharp Umbrian wine." By reiterating the specific elements of the initial experience, Jarman emphasizes their enduring impact and the way they have been etched into memory. The sharpness of the Umbrian wine serves as a metaphor for the clarity and intensity of the recollection, suggesting that these moments of hedonistic pleasure have acquired a deeper, almost spiritual significance with the passage of time.

In "Unholy Sonnet 13," Mark Jarman masterfully captures the interplay between youthful hedonism and mature reflection. Through vivid and evocative imagery, the poem invites readers to consider how the details of past experiences can hold lasting meaning and how the search for God or spiritual significance can emerge from the seemingly ordinary moments of life. The poem serves as a meditation on the ways in which our perceptions and understandings of the divine evolve as we grow older and revisit the memories that have shaped us.

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