Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Eileen Myles? "Leo Said" is a terse, aphoristic poem that distills a profound truth about writing, legacy, and clarity. The poem, composed of just a few lines, embodies the kind of direct, conversational style Myles is known for, while also engaging with the weighty theme of artistic permanence.

The poem is structured as a piece of advice, presumably spoken by someone named Leo, to the speaker. "You?ve gotta / write clearer / so you can / be read / when you?re / dead." This statement is both practical and existential. On one level, it emphasizes clarity in writing, suggesting that for a writer’s work to endure, it must be accessible rather than obscure. On another level, it acknowledges the inevitability of death and the hope—or anxiety—that one’s words will outlive them.

The line breaks create a halting, almost hesitant rhythm, making the reader pause on each phrase, as if the advice is being given in a casual, spoken manner. The final phrase—"when you?re / dead"—lands with a heavy finality, reinforcing the underlying tension between life and art. The poem raises questions about the nature of literary immortality: Is clarity the key to lasting influence? Do cryptic, experimental works risk being forgotten? Myles leaves these questions open, allowing the poem to resonate beyond its immediate statement.

There is also an ironic undertone here. Myles? poetry often resists conventional clarity, favoring an improvisational, fragmented, and deeply personal style. This poem, however, is remarkably clear—perhaps a self-aware nod to the very advice being given. By distilling this thought into its most basic elements, Myles demonstrates the power of brevity and directness, making "Leo Said" an example of its own lesson.

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