Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"One Volume Missing" by Rita Dove is a reflective and layered poem that intertwines memories, the passing of time, and the unexpected connections that objects can evoke. Through the lens of a found book at a rummage sale, Dove explores themes of nostalgia, loss, and the fragmented nature of knowledge.

The poem begins with a vivid and somewhat unsettling image of a "Green sludge of a riverbank," which immediately sets a tone of decay and obscurity. This murky setting is juxtaposed with the act of a tree "shuffling cards," adding an element of chance and randomness to the scene, suggesting that what follows might be the result of serendipitous discovery.

As the poem unfolds, the speaker recounts finding a volume of an encyclopedia at a rummage sale held in the basement of the A.M.E. Zion Church. The description of "his wingtips balanced / on a scuffed linoleum square" vividly brings to life the scene of the sale, grounding the memory in specific sensory details that conjure an atmosphere of modesty and bygone days.

The mention of the book, a "Standard Work / of Reference in the Arts, / Science, History, Discovery and Invention," signifies more than just a compilation of knowledge. It triggers a flood of memories for the speaker, specifically "slow afternoons with a line and a bent nail," evoking a pastime of fishing that contrasts with the academic or intellectual pursuit implied by the encyclopedia.

The discovery within the book, "Motherhood-Orion," reveals orchids on the frontispiece, described with vivid and somewhat erotic imagery as "fever-specked and drooping / their enflamed penises." The juxtaposition of the clinical description of orchids with the sensual, almost graphic, imagery reflects the complex layers of meaning and interpretation that objects and memories can carry.

The poem then notes the specific edition of the encyclopedia, "Werner’s Encyclopedia, / Akron, Ohio, 1909," and the peculiar detail that it is "Complete in Twenty-five Volumes minus one." This missing volume symbolizes the inevitable gaps and omissions in our understanding of history, knowledge, and even personal memories. The missing volume also adds a literal and metaphorical incompleteness to the collection, enhancing the theme of loss and absence.

The concluding lines, "for five bucks / no zebras, no Virginia, / no wars," whimsically list what is missing from the incomplete encyclopedia set due to the absent volume. This list underscores the random and incomplete nature of collected knowledge, and perhaps the randomness of what we remember and what we forget.

Overall, "One Volume Missing" is a poignant meditation on the ways objects can evoke memories, the gaps in what we know and remember, and the bittersweet nature of looking back. Rita Dove uses the motif of a missing encyclopedia volume to explore deeper questions about the reliability of memory and the fragmented nature of our understanding of the past.

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