Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sun and Moon Flowers: Paul Klee, 1879-1940" by Norman Dubie is a reflective and evocative poem that intertwines the life and experiences of the Swiss-German artist Paul Klee with broader themes of war, loss, and artistic expression. The poem uses the historical context of Klee's life during a tumultuous period in Europe to explore the impact of external chaos on personal and artistic realms.

The poem begins with a haunting image of a dead priest in Norway, suggesting themes of sacrifice and the ominous presence of war. The mention of German officers weaving through a deer park underlines the intrusion of conflict into serene settings, a motif that resonates throughout the poem. Dubie uses these settings to reflect on the disturbances in Klee's life and work brought about by the larger socio-political upheavals of his time, particularly World War II.

Klee's introspective question, "What on earth happened to us?" encapsulates a sense of collective loss and bewilderment in the face of widespread changes and challenges. This question is rhetorical yet deeply personal, reflecting Klee's struggle to reconcile his internal world of artistic creation with the external world of conflict and destruction.

Dubie suggests that nothing remains hidden or secret, despite attempts to obscure the truth of war's impacts. This is illustrated through the symbolic North Sea, which serves as a metaphor for the vast, unknowable truths that lie beyond human control or understanding. The reference to the "black star with conifers" and Klee's impending death "like a toad" from a skin disease adds a layer of inevitable doom and natural decay, emphasizing the vulnerability of life and art amidst chaos.

The poem shifts scenes to Klee's interactions in an orchard and a hospital, where he is shielded from the full reality of the war's impacts, particularly on Poland where "moon flowers have already begun growing." This metaphorical growth contrasts with the literal and metaphorical destruction occurring simultaneously, highlighting the paradox of creation amidst destruction.

Dubie employs vivid imagery to connect Klee's artistic vision with the brutal realities of war, suggesting that Klee and his contemporaries might have perceived and even depicted these ruptures in their artworks, not as premonitions but as reflections of their reality. The poem closes with a poignant scene in a hospital, where Klee, seeking truth, is placated by a nurse who provides him with morphine, symbolizing the numbing or silencing of painful truths.

Overall, "Sun and Moon Flowers" is a powerful meditation on the intersections of art, personal suffering, and historical trauma. Dubie captures the essence of Paul Klee's artistic journey and existential questions within a world marred by conflict, using lyrical beauty to explore profound themes of visibility, reality, and the human condition.

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