Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Gregg's poem "As Is" is a striking exploration of place, displacement, and the often harsh realities of the world we inhabit. The poem juxtaposes the present, stark environment with the remnants of ancient, more culturally rich civilizations, drawing a powerful contrast that underscores themes of loss, survival, and the unembellished truth of existence.

The opening lines, "Pay attention, talk to no one unless / you are buying food or borrowing a book," set a tone of isolation and pragmatism. The directive to "pay attention" suggests a world where awareness is crucial, where interactions are limited to necessity. This sense of vigilance continues with "Or asking for directions to the border, / or the canyon, or the river with a pool," highlighting the need to navigate this landscape carefully, seeking out essential resources or escapes.

The phrase "Always formal. Poor with poor." emphasizes the socioeconomic reality of the setting. It implies a certain decorum or distance maintained among the impoverished, a formal acknowledgment of shared hardship. This formality contrasts with the intimate connections and rich cultural heritage suggested later in the poem.

The line "It's not the same here. No Greek ruins." shifts the poem to a comparison with a place of historical and cultural depth, where "fragments with legs of walking horses / painted delicately on it" and "part of a lion on bits of a glazed vase" evoke a world of art and beauty. These fragments symbolize a past civilization's elegance and the remnants of its existence. The mention of Greek ruins conjures images of a world where even the remnants of destruction are beautiful and meaningful, a stark contrast to the current setting.

The poem then brings us back to the present reality: "Here there is no need." This phrase suggests that the current environment lacks the cultural richness and historical depth of the ancient world. Instead, it presents a raw, unfiltered depiction of life and death: "The rabbit's groin is ripped open / on the road. When you find a bird's wing / there is a flattened small bird attached." These vivid, graphic images convey the brutality and immediacy of nature, where death is an everyday occurrence, and beauty is incidental.

The final lines, "A ranch at evening, the sun leaving, / antelope standing and the other birds / flying. All of it meaning the same thing," bring a contemplative closure. The setting sun, the standing antelope, and the flying birds all signify the passage of time and the continuity of life, despite the harshness and starkness of the present environment. The phrase "All of it meaning the same thing" suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance, a recognition that life persists in its various forms, indifferent to human interpretation or significance.

Gregg's poem poignantly contrasts the grandeur and cultural richness of the past with the raw, unembellished reality of the present. It explores themes of displacement, survival, and the search for meaning in a world that often seems indifferent to human suffering and beauty. Through vivid imagery and a contemplative tone, "As Is" invites readers to reflect on the nature of existence and the ways we navigate and interpret the landscapes we inhabit.

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