Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Door to the Second Infinity" by Robert Desnos unfolds as a surreal exploration of the creative process and the inherent fears and transformations that accompany artistic expression. Through vivid and often disconcerting imagery, Desnos delves into the psyche of the artist, presenting the act of writing as both a perilous journey and a confrontation with the self. The poem embodies a unique blend of the mundane and the mystical, offering a metaphorical passage through which one encounters the infinite realms of imagination and the unconscious.

The poem begins with "The inkwell periscope lies in wait around the bend my fountain pen goes back into its shell," immediately immersing the reader in a world where ordinary objects of writing assume life and agency. The inkwell becomes a periscope, suggesting a tool for seeing beyond the usual limits, while the fountain pen's retraction into its shell evokes images of retreat and introspection. This personification of writing instruments sets the stage for a narrative in which the act of creation is fraught with anticipation and danger.

"The sheet of paper spreads its huge white wings / Before long its claws will tear out my eyes" escalates the sense of peril, transforming the blank page into a predatory creature. This imagery vividly captures the artist's fear of the blank canvas (or page), a common metaphor for the daunting potential and the risks involved in creation. The fear of being consumed or destroyed by one's own work, of losing oneself to the creative process, is poignantly expressed in the foreboding of blindness and self-estrangement ("I won't see anything but my late body my late body!").

The reference to "the day of all ridicule" and the image of women putting jewels in their mouths like Demosthenes—a famous orator who, according to legend, trained with pebbles in his mouth to improve his speech—touch upon themes of communication, misunderstanding, and the artist's relationship with their audience. The juxtaposition of the solemnity of Demosthenes' practice with the absurdity of the situation described (women emulating him by placing jewels in their mouths) underscores the often-complex reception of artistic work, where the intent can be lost or transformed into something unrecognizable.

"But I'm the inventor of a telephone made of crystal and English tobacco with a direct line to fear!" concludes the poem on a note that is both boastful and ominous. This invention, a telephone that connects directly to fear, symbolizes the artist's capacity to confront and communicate with the most profound and unsettling aspects of the human experience. The materials—crystal and English tobacco—evoke a sense of luxury and tradition, contrasting sharply with the raw and universal emotion of fear. This line encapsulates the poem's exploration of the artist's role: to create connections to the most intimate and often frightening parts of ourselves, using the tools and trappings of their craft.

"Door to the Second Infinity" is a richly symbolic meditation on the nature of creativity, the dangers of artistic expression, and the transformative power of confronting one's fears. Desnos uses surreal imagery to navigate the complexities of the creative psyche, portraying the act of writing as a journey through a landscape that is at once familiar and profoundly alien. The poem itself becomes a door to the "second infinity," a realm of endless possibility and peril where the artist must venture to discover and reveal the truths that lie within the human soul. Through this work, Desnos invites readers to reflect on the essence of creativity and the courage required to explore the depths of the self and the universe.

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