Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Waking Early Sunday Morning" by Robert Lowell is a reflective and critical poem that captures a blend of personal contemplation, societal critique, and existential reflection. The poem navigates through a variety of themes including the passage of time, the struggle for spiritual meaning, the disillusionment with societal norms, and the enduring presence of violence in the world.

The poem opens with an intense desire for freedom and escape, likening the speaker's wish to break free to a "chinook salmon jumping and falling back, / nosing up to the impossible / stone and bone-crushing waterfall." This metaphor of the salmon's arduous journey against natural obstacles encapsulates the human struggle against limitations and the yearning for transcendence. The salmon, "raw-jawed, weak-fleshed," symbolizes vulnerability and determination, striving to "clear the top on the last try, / alive enough to spawn and die." This captures the cyclical nature of life and the ultimate fate of death, even in moments of triumph.

The speaker shifts to a personal reflection, awakening with a sense of "unpolluted joy / and criminal leisure of a boy." The phrase evokes a nostalgic longing for the carefree innocence of youth, a time untainted by the complexities and responsibilities of adult life. The comparison to a rainbow trout and the image of squatting "like a dragon on / time's hoard before the day's begun" suggests a fleeting, precious moment of freedom and potential before the day's demands intrude.

As the poem progresses, Lowell explores the mundane and mechanical aspects of daily life, with a vision of "business as usual in eclipse / goes down to the sea in ships." This description of the everyday routine as an "eclipse" suggests a sense of obscured vision or lack of clarity. The "wake of refuse, dacron rope" bound for distant destinations symbolizes the waste and detritus of modern life, carried along by the relentless flow of time and commerce.

The speaker's attention shifts to a simple yet profound observation of a "glass of water wet / with a fine fuzz of icy sweat." This serene image, "touched with sky, / serene in their neutrality," reflects a moment of clarity and peace. However, the speaker notes that this tranquility can be easily disrupted by a change in perspective, revealing a background "to darken it, but not to stain." This suggests the fragility of peace and the influence of external factors on one's inner state.

The poem transitions into a critique of religious practices and societal norms. The speaker laments the inability to maintain spiritual purity ("O that the spirit could remain / tinged but untarnished by its strain!") and expresses a desire to be "anywhere, but somewhere else!" This sentiment is reinforced by the depiction of "new electric bells" chiming "Faith of our fathers," a modern, mechanical replacement for traditional church bells. The speaker critiques the rigid, formulaic nature of religious hymns, describing them as "stiff quatrains shoveled out four-square" that "sing of peace, and preach despair." Despite this critique, there is an acknowledgment that these hymns "gave darkness some control, / and left a loophole for the soul," suggesting that even in their rigidity, they provided a framework for grappling with spiritual challenges.

Lowell's poem then questions the nature of divine revelation, pondering, "When will we see Him face to face?" The image of seeing through a "darker glass" indicates an obscured, imperfect understanding of the divine. The "white spire and flag- / pole sticking out above the fog" symbolize traditional religious symbols, now seen as "old white china doorknobs," trivial and ineffective in addressing the deeper madness and chaos of the world.

The poem takes a darker turn with a critique of military power and violence: "Hammering military splendor, / top-heavy Goliath in full armor." This imagery evokes a sense of overwhelming, oppressive force, contrasted with the "little redemption in the mass / liquidations of their brass." The poem reflects on the senselessness of war and violence, with "a million foreskins stacked like trash" as a stark and shocking image of the consequences of conflict.

The speaker expresses a desire for gentleness ("Sing softer!") but questions whether a "new / diminuendo brings no true / tenderness, only restlessness." The poem critiques the superficiality and insincerity of societal changes, suggesting that beneath the surface lies "excess, the hunger for success, / sanity or self-deception."

As the poem concludes, the speaker returns to the longing for liberation: "O to break loose. All life's grandeur / is something with a girl in summer." This moment of personal, intimate freedom contrasts sharply with the broader, more somber reflections. The poem ends on a bleak note, recognizing the persistence of war and violence: "Pity the planet, all joy gone / from this sweet volcanic cone." The final lines evoke a sense of perpetual conflict, with "peace to our children when they fall / in small war on the heels of small / war – until the end of time."

"Waking Early Sunday Morning" does not follow a consistent rhyme scheme throughout the poem. The poem is composed in free verse, which allows for more flexibility in the use of rhyme and rhythm. However, Lowell does employ occasional rhymes and internal rhymes, as well as assonance and consonance, to create musicality and emphasis within specific lines or sections.

"Waking Early Sunday Morning" by Robert Lowell is a complex meditation on the personal, societal, and spiritual challenges of modern life. Through rich imagery and introspective language, the poem explores the tension between the desire for transcendence and the harsh realities of existence, ultimately portraying a world where the potential for beauty and peace is constantly overshadowed by violence and disillusionment.

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