Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"I Want This Corner Empty (Persephone Speaking)" by Julie Carr is a deeply evocative poem that delves into the psyche of Persephone, the mythological figure torn between the underworld and the earth, as a metaphor for personal transformation, longing, and the complex relationship with origins and departure. Through rich and sometimes surreal imagery, Carr explores themes of identity, freedom, and the desire for change, while also touching upon elements of social and familial dynamics.

The poem opens with a powerful desire to "shut the wind down entirely," suggesting a yearning for silence or a cessation of external influences. This act of removing the wind's "tongue from my mouth" can be interpreted as a wish to find one's own voice, free from the intrusion of external forces or expectations. The repetitive action of smoothing the lap "incessantly" hints at a deep-seated restlessness or the need for reassurance and comfort.

Persephone's declaration of possessing "a stone" and "two soles and seven notes rising out of me" conveys a sense of groundedness and the emergence of an internal melody or essence that is uniquely hers, despite claiming to have "nothing to sell but the scent of my father." This line reflects the influence of familial ties and the lingering presence of paternal figures in shaping one's identity, even as one seeks to assert independence.

The desire for the "sunlight on a black man's forehead" and for the "pink and white gumdrops spinning on a cop car to come undone in my gaze" suggests a wish to dismantle or transform societal symbols and narratives of authority and race, imbuing them with a personal and transformative gaze that seeks beauty and liberation in the mundane or oppressive.

Persephone's announcement of leaving home "tomorrow" coupled with the anxious actions of chewing her hair and deepening the holes in her pockets captures the tension and apprehension associated with departure and the unknown. The reference to tasting her mother's "slipping nipple's lick in my cheek" evokes the intimate and nourishing bond between mother and child, which remains a part of Persephone's sensory memory as she contemplates change.

The poem's closing lines, with their shift to everyday actions like cutting fruit with a butter knife and living among "bees, fat dangers," signify a transformation in how Persephone interacts with the world. This change, from the mythological to the personal and tangible, underscores a journey of becoming that embraces the complexities of existence, the natural world, and the pursuit of self-definition beyond the confines of predetermined roles or spaces.

"I Want This Corner Empty (Persephone Speaking)" is a testament to Julie Carr's ability to weave classical mythology with contemporary themes, creating a rich tapestry of poetic exploration that challenges readers to reflect on their own journeys of identity, resistance, and renewal. Through Persephone's voice, Carr invites us to consider the spaces we occupy, the changes we undergo, and the continuous negotiation between where we come from and where we are going.

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