Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Eleanor Wilner's poem "All the Wide Grin of Him" is a richly layered exploration of symbolism, historical reflection, and the persistence of certain images and ideas in human consciousness. The poem traverses a landscape of myth, literature, history, and everyday observation, weaving these elements together into a coherent meditation on the enduring nature of certain symbols and their impact on our perception of the world.

The poem opens with the image of a wide grin "hovering in the air, there, in the highest branches," immediately evoking a surreal and slightly eerie atmosphere. This grin, likened to the fading crescent moon "tipped in that odd way of what's waning," suggests a sense of something diminishing yet still present. The comparison to the Cheshire Cat's smile from Lewis Carroll's *Alice in Wonderland*, "the smile outlasting the cat," underscores the idea of an enduring presence that remains even after its origin has disappeared.

Wilner then shifts to a more ominous tone with the image of the grin "hanging like the pall of ash and smoke over a city for weeks after the bomb." This comparison to the aftermath of destruction brings a stark contrast to the whimsical reference to the Cheshire Cat, suggesting that some remnants of the past, particularly those of trauma and devastation, are harder to dissipate. The reference to the Camel ad in Times Square with "a hole for a mouth, and smoke puffs out, little o's dissolving like Cheerios in a bowl of milk" introduces a modern, commercialized element, juxtaposing the light-hearted with the sinister, and the everyday with the catastrophic.

The poem delves deeper into the etymology and historical connotations of the word "grin," tracing its roots to "Grennian, Anglo-Saxon root of grin: to show the teeth, to snarl." This connection to Grendel, the monstrous antagonist from the epic *Beowulf*, adds a layer of menace and ancient myth to the otherwise whimsical imagery. The muttering and turning of Grendel in his sleep evokes a sense of latent danger and unease.

Wilner then transitions to Arthurian legend, with the lake reclaiming the boats and the Lady of the Lake withdrawing her arm and sword. This image of Arthur, reduced to "a skull grinning up from a snarl of weeds," serves as a stark reminder of mortality and the inevitable decay of even the greatest legends. The "mirror image of the cat-grin above, drowned moon, or a trick of reflection" blurs the line between reality and illusion, emphasizing the cyclical nature of these enduring symbols.

The poem concludes with a return to the image of the Cheshire Cat's smile, now compared to "a Japanese lantern, still swings in the tree with the wind." This fusion of Eastern and Western imagery highlights the universal nature of these symbols. The wind chimes' "sparkle of tunes" adds a musical element, suggesting a delicate, ephemeral beauty. The final lines, "tomorrow sleeps like a kitten, curled in time's side, soft, unsuspecting, milk rimming its grin," evoke a sense of innocence and potential, contrasting sharply with the earlier images of destruction and decay.

"All the Wide Grin of Him" is a complex and evocative poem that blends myth, history, and everyday observation to explore themes of persistence, memory, and the interplay between light and dark, whimsy and menace. Through its rich imagery and interwoven references, Wilner creates a tapestry that invites readers to reflect on the enduring symbols that shape our understanding of the world.

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