Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Thoughts on One's Head" by William Meredith is a whimsical and reflective poem that delves into the complexities of human identity and self-consciousness. Using the metaphor of a head cast in plaster with a bronze wash, Meredith explores the duality of our external appearances and internal experiences, the ephemeral nature of life contrasted with the permanence of artistic representation, and the myriad thoughts and emotions that originate within our minds.

The poem begins by acknowledging the discomfort and self-consciousness that comes with the realization that one's head has been immortalized in a durable medium: "A person is very self-conscious about his head. / It makes one nervous just to know it is cast / In enduring materials, and that when the real one is dead / The cast one, if nobody drops it or melts it down, will last." This introduction sets the tone for the poem, highlighting the tension between our transient physical existence and the seemingly eternal nature of artistic or sculptural representations.

Meredith then shifts focus to the front of the head, where the face resides, noting that we often pay more attention to this outward, visible part than to the complex inner workings of the brain: "We pay more attention to the front end, where the face is, / Than to the interesting and involute interior." The "Fissure of Rolando" and other anatomical features of the brain are described as "parks for the passions and fears and mild hysteria," suggesting that the true essence of our thoughts and emotions lies hidden within, inaccessible and intricate.

The poet humorously describes the range of mental activities that occur within the brain, likening it to a cinema showing "Erotic movies" and more respectable fare like "Documentaries on Sharks and The Japanese Tea Cult." This metaphor captures the diversity of human thoughts, from the mundane to the intellectual, and the way our minds navigate between different realms of interest and experience.

Meredith touches on societal perceptions of beauty, particularly the "fronts of some heads [that] are extravagantly pretty," referring specifically to women. He notes how these aesthetic qualities can provoke extreme actions, such as "launch triremes, sack a whole city," alluding to the legendary tales of Helen of Troy. The imagery of the "female head... mounted on rococo props" emphasizes the societal embellishment and objectification of women's beauty.

Judgment, the poem suggests, is also seated in the head, responsible for managing "sums / Of pleasure and pain" and handling various demands and complaints: "This is the first place everybody comes / With bills, complaints, writs, summons, in the morning." This depiction of the head as a sort of administrative center reflects the burdens of consciousness and decision-making that come with human life.

The poet personalizes the description by detailing the specific capabilities of the head in question: "This particular head, to my certain knowledge / Has been taught to read and write, make love and money, / Operate cars and airplanes, teach in a college, / And tell involved jokes, some few extremely funny." These lines highlight the learned skills and experiences that shape an individual's identity, underscoring the head's role as the repository of knowledge and experience.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the moral and ethical dimensions of the human mind: "It was further taught to know and to eschew / Error and sin, which it does erratically." This acknowledgment of the imperfect nature of human judgment leads to the final, introspective lines: "This is the place the soul calls home just now. / One dislikes it of course: it is the seat of Me." Here, Meredith captures the ambivalence many feel towards their own consciousness, recognizing the head as the center of self-awareness and identity—the "seat of Me"—yet also acknowledging a discomfort or dissatisfaction with this complex, often erratic, and vulnerable seat of being.

"Thoughts on One's Head" is a thoughtful exploration of the human condition, focusing on the interplay between external appearances and internal realities. Through its clever use of metaphor and playful language, the poem invites readers to consider the deeper aspects of their own identities, the impermanence of life, and the challenges of self-knowledge and moral judgment. Meredith's work reflects on the complexities of existence with both humor and seriousness, offering a nuanced perspective on what it means to be human.

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