Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Aphrodite Metropolis (1)," by Kenneth Fearing, is a short but evocative poem that explores themes of love, anonymity, and the ways in which personal sentiments are lost in the urban landscape. Through the juxtaposition of intimate expressions and commercial advertising, Fearing highlights how individual emotions become trivialized in the mass culture of a metropolis.

The poem begins with the seemingly simple and heartfelt declaration, "Myrtle loves Harry," which is immediately qualified with the observation that "It is sometimes hard to remember a thing like that, / Hard to think about it, and no one knows what to do with it when he has it." Here, Fearing reflects on the difficulty of holding onto personal emotions in a bustling, impersonal city. The sentiment is poignant and universal, yet in the urban context, it becomes almost ephemeral, hard to grasp or give meaning to.

Fearing continues by suggesting a solution to this dilemma: "So write it out on a billboard that stands under the yellow light of an 'L' platform among popcorn wrappers and crushed cigars." The billboard serves as a repository for personal sentiments, yet its location among "popcorn wrappers and crushed cigars" indicates a place of disregard, where such expressions are mixed with the detritus of the city. The imagery of the "yellow light" of the elevated train platform adds a melancholic, almost surreal glow to the scene.

The juxtaposition of "Myrtle loves Harry" with commercial advertising further trivializes this personal sentiment: "A poster that says 'Mama I Love Crispy Wafers So.'" The ad for crispy wafers highlights how genuine emotions are often overshadowed by the cacophony of consumer culture. This commercialization reduces the depth of love to the same level as a catchy slogan.

Fearing then describes the addition of graffiti and religious messaging to the mix: "Leave it on a placard where somebody else gave the blonde lady a pencil moustache, and another perplexed citizen deposited: / 'Jesus Saves. Jesus Saves.'" The graffiti of a "pencil moustache" on the placard of a blonde woman symbolizes the defacement of commercial imagery, while the repetition of "Jesus Saves" reflects the struggle to find meaning in the chaotic urban environment.

The poem concludes with a poignant observation: "One can lay this bundle down there with the others, / And never lose it, or forget it, or want it. / 'Myrtle loves Harry.' / They live somewhere." Here, the "bundle" of sentiments, both personal and commercial, is placed among countless others, making it indistinguishable and ultimately forgettable. The repetition of "Myrtle loves Harry" at the end brings the focus back to the original declaration, yet the phrase "They live somewhere" conveys a sense of anonymity and distance. In the sprawling metropolis, even intimate declarations of love are swallowed up by the mass culture, leaving Myrtle and Harry as indistinct figures amidst the crowd.

Structurally, the poem is written in free verse, which allows Fearing to seamlessly blend imagery and observations, creating a rhythm that mirrors the fragmented and disjointed nature of urban life. The repetition of "Myrtle loves Harry" serves as a refrain, emphasizing the personal amid the impersonal and providing a poignant contrast to the commercial and religious messaging.

In "Aphrodite Metropolis (1)," Kenneth Fearing masterfully captures the tension between personal sentiment and the anonymity of urban life. By juxtaposing the declaration of love with commercial advertising and religious slogans, he exposes how the mass culture of the metropolis can trivialize and diminish even the most intimate emotions. The poem serves as a critique of modern urban life and a reflection on the struggle to maintain individuality in the face of overwhelming anonymity.

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