Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Example" by William Matthews is a contemplative and introspective poem that explores the tension between imagination and reality, love and perception. The poem sets a reflective mood, delving into the complexities of the human mind and emotions through vivid imagery and metaphor.

The poem opens with an imaginative scenario: "Imagine the Hotel Lucide, the set for the third act of The Inverted Comma." This line suggests a place and a narrative that are likely fictional, setting the stage for a discussion on the nature of imagination. However, the speaker quickly grounds the narrative in a more mundane and realistic setting: "But in an old farmhouse outside Ithaca, New York, I can't." This shift from the imagined to the real highlights the limitations of imagination when confronted with the starkness of reality.

The description of the setting in March, with "a skim of frozen mud and dirty snow," conveys a sense of bleakness and transition. The landscape, covered in a thin layer of snow and mud, suggests a world in between seasons, not fully winter nor spring. Beneath this surface, "an ooze beginning like pure longing" suggests an underlying potential or desire, something waiting to emerge or be realized, much like the arrival of spring after winter.

On the speaker's desk, there is "a photograph of Nabokov and his wife," a detail that invites contemplation on relationships, creativity, and perhaps the literary life. The speaker cautions, "Be careful now. The mind that will not cease teasing itself means to survive." This line suggests that self-reflection and intellectual playfulness are essential for mental survival, indicating that the act of pondering, imagining, and questioning is a vital part of life.

The poem then delves into an exploration of the mind's diversions: "It is like a discovered check: the elegant diversions lead themselves away, and it has always been there. Mate." This simile compares the mind's distractions to a found check, something valuable yet overlooked, hinting at the intrinsic worth of mental explorations and daydreams. The word "Mate" could imply a connection or partnership, possibly referring to the relationship depicted in the photograph or the idea of finding a soulmate.

The phrase "Love is the last work, the imagination's regicide" is particularly striking. It suggests that love, as an ultimate creation or pursuit, can overthrow the imaginative idealizations we hold. "Regicide," the killing of a king, implies that love can destroy the idealized visions we construct, replacing them with a more grounded, perhaps less perfect reality. This idea is reinforced by the following line: "There are no tricks of perspective on a flat cleared space, except the earth is imperceptibly curved." Here, the poem acknowledges that even in seemingly straightforward situations, like love or life, there are subtle complexities (the earth's curve) that challenge our perceptions.

The poem concludes with a personal and vivid image: "Like love, the straight line is a visionary parody. It is the cowbird I invent to watch through my streaked study window, my eyes shining above the desk like binoculars of light." The comparison of a straight line to a "visionary parody" suggests that simplicity and perfection are often illusions. The cowbird, an invented figure, symbolizes the act of observing and interpreting the world. The speaker's "eyes shining above the desk like binoculars of light" captures a moment of clarity and focus, emphasizing the act of seeing and understanding.

In "Example," William Matthews explores the interplay between imagination and reality, the complexity of love, and the subtle nuances of perception. The poem reflects on the inherent challenges of aligning our inner visions with the external world, acknowledging the imperfections and subtleties that define our experiences. Through rich imagery and thoughtful metaphors, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which we navigate the tensions between what we imagine and what is real, and how love and understanding fit into this intricate landscape.

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