Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Galway Kinnell's "The Supper After the Last" delves into themes of existential dread, the pursuit of transcendence, and the stark reality of human nature. Through a series of vivid and sometimes surreal images, Kinnell explores the juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane, creating a powerful meditation on the human condition.

The poem opens with an evocative description of the desert and sea, both vast and immutable, setting a tone of desolation and timelessness. The dragonfly, delicate and ephemeral, casts a fleeting shadow on the sand, symbolizing the transient nature of life and the illusions that humans cling to. The bather, who tramples and recomposes his shadow, represents the continuous struggle to understand and control one's own existence amidst the greater forces of nature.

In the second section, Kinnell introduces the image of a white-washed house with a vacant chair waiting in the sunshine. The chair, though empty, becomes imbued with significance as it awaits an unseen guest. The host's plan to offer water, a simple act of hospitality, carries deeper connotations of spiritual offering and the sustenance of life. The vacancy of the chair, gradually becoming less so, hints at the impending presence of a transformative or disruptive force.

The third section transitions into a scene of a supper, where the participants consume rosé and chicken. The image of the chicken's head tucked under its wing, the red-backed dog cracking bones, and the blind cat watching, creates a sense of unease and foreboding. The "wild man" at the table, described as a "wreck of passion," embodies the raw, untamed aspects of human nature. His actions—devouring the food, staring at the company, and unsettling the diners—reflect a deeper existential hunger and the disruption of the civilized veneer.

The wild man's declaration in the fourth section, "I came not to astonish / But to destroy you," serves as a pivotal moment in the poem. He rejects the illusions of transcendence and spiritual aspiration, emphasizing the inherent simplicity and complexity of human beings as they are. His disdain for the jug of water, the yearning for wings, and the desire for transcendence underscores the futility of these pursuits in the face of stark reality. The images of dirt and the creator's images in dirt highlight the fundamental, earthly nature of existence.

The poem's final section takes on a surreal quality as the scene begins to dissolve. The witnesses back away, the Savior becomes a mirage, and the dog and cat transform, leaving only the hot shine where the wild man sits. His whispering message challenges the reader to confront the duality of flesh and light, of earthly existence and the promise of resurrection. The assertion that "you are the flesh; I am the resurrection, because I am the light" encapsulates the poem's exploration of the tension between physical reality and spiritual aspiration.

Kinnell's masterful use of imagery and symbolism in "The Supper After the Last" creates a rich, multilayered narrative that invites readers to reflect on the nature of existence, the pursuit of meaning, and the inevitable confrontation with mortality. The poem's blend of the sacred and the profane, the transient and the eternal, underscores the complexity of the human condition and the ceaseless quest for understanding and transcendence. Through its evocative language and profound insights, the poem stands as a testament to Kinnell's ability to capture the essence of life's deepest questions and the haunting beauty of its fleeting moments.

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