Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Gregg’s poem "The Apparent" delves into the nuanced and intricate relationship between perception, presence, and absence, employing vivid imagery and profound symbolism to convey a deeper understanding of human consciousness and the natural world.

Gregg begins with a reflection on transparency, but immediately clarifies that she doesn’t mean the conventional sense of seeing through something. Instead, she invokes a more complex form of symbolism: “I mean the way a symbol is made when an X is drawn over O.” This line suggests an intersection, a convergence of different elements that together create a new meaning, much like how various aspects of life and nature intersect to form a holistic experience. This convergence is not about clarity in the literal sense, but about the symbolic and the interconnectedness of different parts of existence.

The poem continues to explore this theme by considering how the world shifts when it is named: “As the world moves when it is named. In the sense / of truth by consciousness, which we translate as opposites.” Here, Gregg suggests that naming and identifying elements of the world bring them into our consciousness, making them real and significant. This act of naming, however, also introduces the concept of opposites, creating a duality in our perception. This duality is further reflected in the lines “The space we breathe is also called distance. / Presence gives. Absence allows and calls,” where Gregg plays with the ideas of presence and absence, suggesting that both are integral to our understanding and experience of the world. Presence is active and giving, while absence is passive but equally important, allowing space and evoking a call for something to fill it.

The poem then shifts to a more personal and intimate tone with the line, “Transparent in the way the heart sees old leaves.” This transparency is about emotional clarity and the ability to perceive the beauty and truth in things that are aged or past their prime. It’s a way of seeing that is deeply connected to feeling and experience, suggesting a wisdom and appreciation that comes with time.

Gregg further emphasizes the idea of permanence through nature: “As we become more like the hills by feeling. / I mean permanence.” The hills, ancient and enduring, symbolize a kind of permanence that human emotions and experiences strive to emulate. This permanence is not static but is imbued with a sense of timelessness and continuity.

The encounter with the deer becomes a poignant moment in the poem, representing a perfect harmony between human and nature: “As when the deer and I / regard each other. Ah, there was no fear then.” This moment of mutual regard, devoid of fear, symbolizes a profound connection and understanding. It is a fleeting but significant instance where boundaries between species dissolve, leaving only a shared presence.

The poem concludes with the deer’s departure as rain falls: “When she went with her young from the meadow / back into the nearly night of the woods, / it was because the rain came down suddenly harder.” This ending reinforces the natural cycle of presence and absence. The deer’s return to the woods is a natural response to the changing environment, much like how moments of connection in life are often transient but leave a lasting impression.

"The Apparent" is a meditation on the interplay between visibility and invisibility, presence and absence, permanence and change. Linda Gregg uses rich, evocative imagery to explore how these concepts shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. The poem invites readers to contemplate the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of everyday experiences and to appreciate the fleeting yet profound connections we share with the natural world.

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