Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Umbrella" by Weldon Kees is a richly detailed poem that weaves together historical, cultural, and personal reflections on the symbolic and practical uses of umbrellas. The poem explores the umbrella as an artifact imbued with significance across various societies and epochs, juxtaposing its mundane functionality with its ceremonial and spiritual roles.

The poem opens with a series of reasons for the worship and reverence of trees in "hot countries" and how these cultural practices led to the development of umbrellas: "Because, in the hot countries, / They worshipped trees; because, / Under the sacred figs, Gautama / Became a god; because of the rain, / Because the sun beats down." This introduction links the umbrella's origin to natural elements and religious practices, highlighting its role as a protector against the elements and as a symbol of divine presence.

Kees then moves to the biblical reference of constructing a tent for the ark: "Because we followed orders, building a tent / 'Of ten curtains of fine twined linen, / And blue and purple and scarlet.'" The use of rich, vibrant colors and the detailed description of the ark's protection emphasize the umbrella's sacred and ceremonial significance. The poet then transitions to a personal act of planting an elm tree, symbolizing shelter and protection: "I planted the seed / Of an elm and watered it. Rest / In the shelter of this shade."

The poem proceeds to explore various cultural depictions of umbrellas, from Indian gods adorned with tiers of aureoles replaced by umbrellas to the Chinese legend of Lou Pan's wife inventing portable roofs. These anecdotes illustrate the umbrella's evolution from a static shelter to a mobile protector: "Now that the grass / Goes brown with autumn, I will build roofs / One can carry about."

The poem delves into the historical and symbolic roles of umbrellas in royal and religious contexts. For example, in ancient China, umbrellas symbolized absolute power: "When the Son / Of Heaven strode to the hunt, twenty-four umbrellas / Went before him." Similarly, in India, umbrellas were part of regal processions: "the Prince of Wales (Later Edward VII) moved in stately procession / Mounted on an elephant, / A gold umbrella before him."

Kees also touches on the Greeks' use of umbrellas in religious rites and the practical yet symbolic use of umbrellas to shield corpses, protecting sunlight from pollution by the dead: "When we left the corpses / Out of doors, we put umbrellas over them, / Not to shield them from the sun, but rather / To protect the sunlight against pollution / By the dead." This detail underscores the umbrella's role as a mediator between life and death, purity and pollution.

The poem's contemporary setting is introduced with a stark and dramatic image of a black umbrella caught in a storm: "Over the empty harbor, gray and motionless, / The clouds have been gathering all afternoon, and now / The sea is pitted with rain." The umbrella, once a symbol of protection and authority, is now depicted as vulnerable and fragile, "ripped apart and wrong side out," ultimately "flapping and free, / Into the heart of the storm." This image evokes a sense of chaos and the uncontrollable forces of nature, contrasting sharply with the controlled and ceremonial uses of umbrellas described earlier.

"The Umbrella" by Weldon Kees is a multifaceted exploration of a seemingly simple object that transcends its practical use to become a symbol of power, protection, and vulnerability. Through historical references, cultural anecdotes, and vivid imagery, Kees captures the umbrella's complex significance, inviting readers to reflect on its roles in different contexts and its enduring presence in human life. The poem's structure, weaving together past and present, personal and universal, underscores the interconnectedness of history, culture, and individual experience.

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