Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Patriotic Tour and Postulate of Joy" by Robert Penn Warren is a darkly humorous and surreal reflection on American political life and the quest for meaning. The poem uses the image of a mockingbird, a symbol of mimicry and satire, to critique the political figures and culture of Washington, D.C. It delves into the existential anxieties that accompany the pursuit of power and the search for joy or purpose within the structures of authority.

The poem begins with a vivid scene set in Washington, D.C., where, in the stillness of a June night, a single mockingbird sings. This bird is not just singing any song; it seems to carry a message, a critical and possibly mocking commentary directed at the highest levels of government. The choice of a mockingbird is significant—it is known for its ability to imitate the sounds of other birds and even mechanical noises. In this context, the mockingbird becomes a satirical commentator, echoing and amplifying the absurdities and hypocrisies of those in power.

The mockingbird sings "to the Presidential ear," pouring "criticism and advice" into it. This suggests that even the highest office is not immune to the scrutiny and judgment of this avian observer. The bird's song serves as a kind of unfiltered, brutal honesty that the President is rarely exposed to, highlighting the isolation and disconnect that can accompany political power. The fact that this critique is delivered by a mockingbird—an animal rather than a person—underscores the idea that truth and insight can come from unexpected sources, often ignored or dismissed by those in positions of authority.

The poem then extends the mockingbird's audience to the senators, who are similarly subjected to its relentless critique. Some of them are so disturbed by the bird’s song that they "rose with a taste in the throat like bile," suggesting feelings of guilt, shame, or disgust. The image of them "spitting" in the bathroom, staring at themselves in the mirror, and feeling "feet cold on tile" evokes a sense of discomfort and self-loathing. It’s as if the mockingbird’s song has forced them to confront their own moral and ethical failings, making them aware of the dissonance between their public personas and their private selves.

J. Edgar Hoover, then-director of the FBI, is also mentioned as being woken by the bird. However, his reaction is notably different; he "kissed Mom's photo, so heard no more." This could be read as a satirical jab at Hoover's public image of conservative values and his ability to dismiss criticism or inconvenient truths by retreating into personal sentimentality. The act of kissing his mother’s photo suggests a clinging to comforting illusions, a refusal to engage with the unsettling message of the mockingbird.

The poem also alludes to the "heroes" in Arlington Cemetery, the resting place of many American soldiers. They "stirred and meditated on the message of that bird," implying that even in death, these figures are not beyond the reach of the mockingbird's critique. The "heroes" meditating on the bird's song could symbolize the enduring nature of the questions and challenges that surround concepts of patriotism, heroism, and sacrifice.

The speaker of the poem is also not immune to the mockingbird's song. In the final stanza, he describes himself rising "naked" and "shivering in moonlight," suggesting vulnerability and exposure. The bird's song prompts an existential crisis in him, leading him to "cry out" in his need "to know what postulate of joy men have tried / To live by, in sunlight and moonlight, until they died." This line captures the poem's central concern: the search for a guiding principle or belief that gives meaning to human existence. The mockingbird, with its critical song, challenges the validity of the ideals and beliefs that people, especially those in power, live by.

The poem uses the mockingbird as a metaphor for an unrelenting and inescapable voice of truth or conscience, a voice that forces individuals to confront their actions and beliefs. The bird's song is a catalyst for introspection and a reminder of the often ignored or forgotten moral and ethical considerations that lie beneath the surface of public life. Through this image, Warren explores themes of power, integrity, and the human condition, questioning what it means to live a life of purpose and joy amidst the complexities and corruptions of the world.

"Patriotic Tour and Postulate of Joy" thus becomes a meditation on the dissonance between the ideals professed by society and the often uncomfortable truths that lie beneath. It challenges both the powerful and the ordinary to reflect on the principles they live by and the joys they seek, suggesting that in the end, true understanding may come from acknowledging the unsettling voices, like that of the mockingbird, that sing in the silence of the night.

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