Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's "Passover" is a complex and multi-layered poem that weaves together the ancient traditions of the Jewish holiday of Passover with contemporary reflections on identity, generational conflict, and the enduring relevance of religious and cultural rituals. Through its five sections, the poem explores themes of memory, exile, and the tension between tradition and modernity, using the symbolism of the Passover Seder as a central motif.

 I

The poem begins with a vivid description of the Seder table, set "with metaphor." This opening line sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the elements of the Passover meal. The "curling parsley" is described as a "green sign nailed to the doors / Of God's underground," connecting the ritual of dipping parsley in saltwater to the ancient practice of marking doors during the original Passover in Egypt. The salt represents "desert and eyes," evoking both the harshness of the Israelites' journey and the tears shed in suffering. The "roasted shank bone of a Pascal lamb" serves as a "relic of sacrifice and bleating spring," reminding the participants of the sacrificial lambs of ancient times and the renewal of life that spring brings. The imagery in this section is rich and layered, with each element of the Seder carrying deep historical and religious significance.

As the speaker moves down the table, they observe "fresh shoots of a root / they have been hacking at for centuries." This line could refer to the bitter herbs eaten during the Seder, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery, or it could suggest the ongoing struggle to maintain cultural and religious traditions in the face of modern challenges. The unleavened bread, described as a "baked scroll / whose wavy lines are undecipherable," symbolizes the mystery and continuity of tradition, passed down through generations but often not fully understood.

 II

The second section shifts focus to the participants of the Seder, particularly the sons mentioned in the Haggadah—the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not ask. These sons are all represented by the speaker's own son, who "leans tonight as it is written," fulfilling the commandment to recline during the meal to symbolize freedom. However, the father calls it "slouching," reflecting a generational disconnect and perhaps a subtle critique of the son's casual attitude towards the ritual. The description of the son's "hippie hair" and "hassid hair" as "strangely alike" suggests the blending of old and new, the traditional and the countercultural, in a way that challenges conventional boundaries.

The section also touches on the tension between religious observance and secular life. The "First Born, a live child cried / among the bullrushes," alludes to the biblical story of Moses, while the "root / you know stirs between your legs, ready / to spill its seed in gentile gardens" suggests the son's sexual awakening and potential departure from Jewish tradition. The speaker expresses concern for this assimilation, particularly on this night, when "Jerusalem still beckons us, in tongues," symbolizing the enduring pull of the homeland and religious heritage.

 III

In the third section, the poem takes on a more lyrical and abstract tone, posing a rhetorical question: "What black-throated bird / in a warm country / sings spirituals, / sings spirituals / to Moses now?" This image evokes the idea of exile and displacement, as the "black-throated bird" symbolizes the voice of the oppressed, perhaps alluding to the African American spirituals that draw on biblical themes of liberation. The repetition of "sings spirituals" emphasizes the connection between the ancient story of the Exodus and the ongoing struggles for freedom and justice in different cultures and contexts.

 IV

The fourth section draws a parallel between the Exodus from Egypt and other forms of migration and escape, both natural and human. "One exodus prefigures the next," the speaker observes, suggesting that the story of the Israelites fleeing Egypt is part of a larger, universal pattern of displacement and survival. The reference to glaciers fleeing "before hot whips of air" and waves bowing at God's gesture reinforces the idea of nature itself participating in the cycle of exodus and renewal.

The section also reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of change: "Now the blossoms pass from April’s tree, / refugee raindrops mar the glass, / borders are transitory." The image of "refugee raindrops" and "transitory" borders speaks to the fragility of human constructs and the constant movement of people and ideas across boundaries. The "changeling gene" seeking "stone sanctuary" suggests the ongoing search for stability and identity in a world that is constantly in flux.

 V

The final section brings the focus back to the present, where the speaker reflects on the plagues that continue to afflict the modern world. "Far from Egypt, I have sighted blood, / have heard the throaty mating of frogs," the speaker notes, drawing a direct line between the biblical plagues and contemporary challenges. The imagery of "vermin, animals loose in hallways, / boils, sickness, hail" evokes a sense of chaos and danger, while the "seventeen-year locusts" rising "from their heavy beds" suggest the cyclical nature of these calamities.

The poem closes on a personal and poignant note: "Darkness of newsprint. / My son, my son." The "darkness of newsprint" could refer to the overwhelming and often grim news of the world, while the repetition of "my son" expresses the speaker's deep concern and love, as well as the anxiety about the future that all parents feel. The poem ends with a sense of unresolved tension, acknowledging the persistence of suffering and the challenge of maintaining faith and tradition in a world that often seems indifferent or hostile.

 Conclusion

"Passover" by Linda Pastan is a richly textured poem that intertwines personal, historical, and religious themes. Through its exploration of the Passover Seder and the symbolic elements associated with the holiday, the poem reflects on the enduring relevance of ancient traditions in contemporary life, the complexities of identity, and the universal human experiences of exile, survival, and the search for meaning. Pastan's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and layered narrative creates a powerful meditation on the ways in which the past continues to inform the present, and how the rituals and stories we inherit shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

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