Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Mark Jarman's poem "The Black Riviera" is a vivid exploration of youthful escapism, desire, and the alluring yet dangerous allure of drugs. Through rich imagery and reflective tone, Jarman captures the complexities of teenage rebellion, the fleeting nature of pleasure, and the intertwining of love and peril.

The poem opens with a scene set after dark, where a group of teenagers—Larry Dietz, Luis Gonzalez, the Fitzgerald brothers, and Jarman—are waiting under the cover of trees: "The rain begins its sober comedy, / Slicking down their hair as they wait / Under a pepper tree or eucalyptus." This setting establishes a sense of secrecy and anticipation, as the rain becomes a backdrop to their clandestine activities.

Jarman then describes the arrival of the "black Riviera," a sleek and mysterious car that symbolizes both the allure and danger of their pursuit: "The apotheosis of wet asphalt / And smeary-silvery glare / And plush inner untouchability." The car, with its dark and luxurious presence, represents an escape from reality and a gateway to a temporary, intoxicating freedom. The transaction is quick and impersonal: "A hand takes money and withdraws, / Another extends a plastic sack— / Short, too dramatic to be questioned." This brevity underscores the transactional nature of their encounter, highlighting the disconnect between the allure of the drug and its actual consequences.

The poem delves into the sensory experience of being stoned, where time seems distorted: "They are left, dripping rain / Under their melancholy tree, and see time / Knocked akilter, sort of funny, / But slowing down strangely, too." This description captures the altered perception that drugs induce, where reality becomes both humorous and unsettlingly slow.

Jarman then shifts to the dreams and desires that fuel their escapism: "They might dream that they are in love / And wake to find they are." This line suggests a longing for genuine connection and affection, which is momentarily fulfilled in their altered state. The metaphor of "pumping arteries" and "bloody oxygen" conveys the intensity and physicality of their desires, as well as the fleeting nature of these moments of connection.

The poem reflects on the transformative power of these experiences: "In fact, some of us woke up that way. / It has to do with how desire takes shape." Here, Jarman acknowledges that these fleeting moments of connection and desire can have lasting impacts, shaping their understanding of love and pleasure. The beauty of these experiences, however, is rooted in a darker reality: "Its beauty has the dark roots / Of a girl skipping down a high-school corridor / Selling Seconal from a bag." This imagery highlights the undercurrent of danger and exploitation that accompanies their pursuit of pleasure.

The closing lines return to the image of the black car: "Or a black car gliding close to the roadtop, / So insular, so quiet, it enters the earth." This final image encapsulates the allure and ultimate descent of their escapism, where the car, a symbol of their desires and dangers, seamlessly blends into the earth, suggesting an inevitable return to reality and the consequences of their actions.

In "The Black Riviera," Mark Jarman masterfully captures the interplay of desire, danger, and the fleeting nature of youthful escapism. Through evocative imagery and introspective reflections, the poem explores the allure of temporary pleasures and the lasting impacts of these experiences on the individuals involved. The poem invites readers to consider the complexities of desire and the ways in which our pursuits of pleasure are intertwined with risks and consequences.

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