Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Calm" by Robert Hass is a meditative poem that juxtaposes the mundane moments of daily life with the deeper, often unsettling, undercurrents of human consciousness. Through its imagery and tone, the poem explores themes of tranquility, the passage of time, and the elusive nature of inner peace.

The poem begins with a serene setting: "September sun, a little fog in the mornings. No sanctified terror." This introduction sets a calm and reflective mood, establishing a sense of quietude in the natural world. The absence of "sanctified terror" suggests a respite from existential fears or anxieties, creating a space for contemplation.

The focus then shifts to a domestic scene: "At night Luke says, 'How do you connect a b to an a in cursive?' He is bent to the task with such absorption that he doesn't notice the Scarlatti on the stereo, which he would in other circumstances turn off." This moment captures the innocence and concentration of a child absorbed in learning, oblivious to the background music. The reference to Scarlatti, a composer known for his intricate and expressive music, contrasts with Luke's straightforward task, highlighting the layers of complexity in everyday life.

The speaker observes the evening setting: "I go out and look at the early stars. They glow faintly; faintly the mountain is washed in the color of sunset, at that season a faded scarlet like the petals of the bougainvillea which is also fading." The imagery of the stars and the mountain bathed in fading light evokes a sense of transience and the gentle passing of time. The comparison to fading bougainvillea petals reinforces this theme, suggesting the beauty and impermanence of the natural world.

The poem introduces a contrasting sound: "A power saw, somewhere in the neighborhood, is enacting someone's idea of more pleasure, an extra room or a redwood tub. It hums and stops, hums and stops." This mechanical noise interrupts the tranquility, symbolizing human activity and the desire for improvement or expansion. The repetitive humming and stopping mimic the ebb and flow of thoughts and distractions that intrude upon moments of calm.

In the second section, the tone shifts to a more introspective and surreal narrative: "In the dream there was a face saying no. Not with words. Brow furrow, crow's-feet, lip curl: no, it is forbidden to you, no." The face in the dream represents a barrier or denial, an abstract and forbidding presence. The description of the face as "featureless" and cold adds to its eerie and elusive nature.

The poem delves deeper into the nature of this denial: "But it was featureless, you could put your hand through it and feel cold on the other side." This face is not a specific figure of authority or familiarity but a universal symbol of rejection and limitation. The mention of "the father-face" and "the mother-face" expands this idea, suggesting that this denial transcends individual experiences and archetypes.

The imagery of the meadow introduces a contrasting space of memory and possibility: "The meadow, you remember the meadow? And the air in June which held the scent of it as the woman in religious iconography holds the broken son?" This vivid and tender description evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place of peace and beauty. The comparison to religious iconography adds a layer of sacredness to this memory.

The poem concludes with an invitation: "You can go into that meadow, the light routed by a brilliant tenderness of green, a cool V carved by a muskrat in the blue-gray distance of the pond, black-eyed Susans everywhere. You can go." This final image offers a glimpse of solace and escape, a place where one can find respite from the denials and rejections of the waking world.

"Calm" by Robert Hass navigates the delicate balance between the serene and the unsettling, weaving together moments of everyday life with profound reflections on human consciousness. Through its evocative imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to explore the layers of calm and conflict within themselves and the world around them.

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