Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"For Milarepa, in Ruse, on Paper" by Norman Dubie is a poetic exploration of reality, perception, and the creative process, filtered through a rich tapestry of metaphorical and often surreal imagery. The poem draws inspiration from Milarepa, the 11th-century Tibetan poet and yogi, known for his songs and poems that expressed the teachings of Buddhism in everyday language. This historical and spiritual context adds depth to Dubie's reflections on the nature of poetic creation and human experience.

The poem opens with a vivid scene of farmers dressed in gold and blue, drinking heated rosewater by a window, with the elements of sun and snow merging into the river. This setting creates a contrast between the warmth of the interior and the harshness of the exterior environment, setting the tone for a poem concerned with contrasts and contradictions.

The next image, of a plough on the hillside that seems to speak vulgarly to the poet, introduces a theme of rebellion or disdain towards traditional or expected poetic forms. This personification of the plough as antagonistic towards the poet underscores a conflict between the poet's inner world and the external reality of labor and nature.

Dubie then shifts to a metaphor of "pink girls in the pear tree," substituting these images for traditional ideas of heaven. This substitution suggests a reimagining of spiritual or idealistic concepts in more tangible, earthly terms. The mention of the local governor, inebriated and reflecting on poetry as akin to ploughing a field, reinforces the poem's exploration of how poetry intertwines with the mundane aspects of life, turning the routine into something significant or transcendent.

The poet's frustrated exclamation, "What shit," followed by a reflection on the absurdity of life—"it's all measures of breath mocking us"—captures a cynicism towards the poetic endeavor itself, questioning the value and purpose of poetry in capturing or responding to the human condition.

As the poem progresses, Dubie describes a surreal chase of a "crazed bleeding roebuck" over the horizon, leading to "an even stranger village beyond parenthesis." This journey beyond conventional boundaries (signified by "parenthesis") suggests a movement towards uncharted territories in both a literal and metaphorical sense, challenging the confines of traditional narrative and poetic forms.

The poem concludes on an ambiguous note with the image of "mustard gloriole of the fallen pears," likening the imperfections of fallen pears to "the black teeth of the river's mouth." This image serves as a metaphor for the inevitable decay and imperfection of life, which pulses around an "average value," suggesting a kind of resignation to the ordinariness and inherent uncertainties of existence.

Ultimately, Dubie acknowledges the limitations of human understanding and poetic expression, yet finds a form of forgiveness or acceptance for the "pink girls in their pear tree," symbolizing perhaps a reconciliation with the imperfect but beautiful aspects of life.

In summary, "For Milarepa, in Ruse, on Paper" is a complex, layered poem that weaves together lyrical, philosophical, and visual elements to question and reflect on the nature of poetry, perception, and the human experience. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, the poem offers a rich meditation on the interplay between the ideal and the real, the sacred and the profane, in the pursuit of artistic and spiritual understanding.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...