Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's "The Ark of Consequence" presents a vivid and profound exploration of the symbolic and real-world implications of the rainbow. The poem intricately connects the natural phenomenon of the rainbow with themes of environmental responsibility, continuity, and the repercussions of human actions. Piercy’s language is evocative, weaving together the beauty of the rainbow with a stark warning about the environmental impact of human behavior.

The poem opens with a description of the rainbow, traditionally seen as "an arc, a bridge strung / in thinning clouds." This familiar image is expanded as Piercy recounts witnessing a "perfect circle" of a rainbow, "rising and falling and rising again / through the octave of colors." The circular rainbow, rare and complete, symbolizes wholeness and continuity, contrasting with the more common incomplete arc. This image sets the stage for the poem's exploration of the cyclical nature of actions and their consequences.

Piercy contrasts the "perfect circle" with the partial promise of a typical rainbow, noting that it is "not a banal sign of safety like a smile pin." This comparison critiques the superficial use of the rainbow as a symbol, suggesting that it holds a deeper, more serious promise: "this world will not self-destruct." The rainbow's promise, according to Piercy, is not about immediate safety but about the endurance of the world despite humanity’s actions.

The poem then shifts to the concept of the rainbow as a "boomerang of liquid light," emphasizing the idea that actions return to us. Piercy illustrates this through environmental imagery: "what we toss out returns in the water table; flows from the faucet / into our bones; what we shoot up into orbit falls / to earth through the roof one night." This stark depiction of environmental consequences highlights the interconnectedness of human actions and natural systems. The pollutants and waste we generate do not simply disappear; they come back to impact our health and environment.

Piercy further develops this theme by describing the rainbow as a "promise that what we do continues in an arc / of consequence." This arc of consequence affects future generations, "flickers in our children’s genes," and manifests in the natural world, "collects in each spine and liver, gleams / in the apple, coats the down of the drowning auk." The imagery here is potent and multifaceted, linking the human body, food, and wildlife in a continuous chain of cause and effect.

The poem's climax presents a jarring image of "rainbow iridescence shiver in the oil slick," a stark reminder of the pollution tainting natural beauty. The "poisoned river" serves as a powerful symbol of the broken covenant between humanity and the environment. Piercy’s use of the word "shudder" captures the visceral reaction to this betrayal of nature, emphasizing the severity of our environmental neglect.

In the closing lines, Piercy underscores the gravity of the situation, referring to Earth as a "floating round ark / with the dead moon for company and warning." This metaphor evokes the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, but with a modern twist that highlights the finite nature of our planet and the urgent need for stewardship. The "dead moon" serves as a stark reminder of what could become of Earth if humanity fails to heed the warnings of environmental degradation.

"The Ark of Consequence" is a powerful meditation on the interconnectedness of human actions and the environment. Through vivid imagery and a deep understanding of natural symbolism, Marge Piercy calls attention to the cyclical nature of consequences and the urgent need for environmental responsibility. The poem challenges readers to look beyond superficial symbols and recognize the profound implications of their actions on the world and future generations. It is both a celebration of the natural world’s beauty and a cautionary tale about the potential for its destruction.

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