Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Eleanor Wilner's poem "Desert Parable" explores themes of tradition, exile, and transformation within a stark and unforgiving landscape. Set in a desolate canyon, the poem captures the tension between individual desire and communal expectation, as well as the profound isolation that can result from breaking away from established norms.

The poem begins by describing the canyon's arid environment, where "nothing but the heat-stunned air" and "the hum of insects" define the setting. The canyon has been dry for so long that even the Grandfathers, the tribal elders, cannot remember when it last held water. This dryness symbolizes not only the physical desolation but also the cultural and emotional barrenness that the protagonist feels. The earth and sky are personified as entities that have taken the river away, leaving the land barren and the people in a perpetual state of want.

The protagonist, a restless young woman, contrasts sharply with her environment and her tribe. She is described as knowing the footholds on the cliff by heart, symbolizing her intimate yet strained relationship with her home. The cliff, a vertical challenge, represents the difficulty of both literal and metaphorical ascent and descent within the tribe's rigid structure. The woman is depicted as different from the other tribal members, who adhere to the customs and traditions symbolized by their weaving—an activity that requires precision and adherence to established patterns. Her inability to conform, as seen in her disrupted weaving, signifies her internal struggle and desire for something beyond the pueblo's confines.

The woman's dreams of a different place, where "the rains fell thick and sudden" and the "arrows of the sun were broken by the leaves," suggest a longing for a more fertile and dynamic existence. Her restlessness manifests physically and emotionally, disrupting her sleep and her relationships within the tribe. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic, leading to conflicts that culminate in her exile.

The tribe's decision to drive her away, filling in the toe-holds to prevent her return, symbolizes the final severance from the community. This act of altering the footholds represents a deliberate effort to ensure she cannot come back, emphasizing the harshness of her punishment and the tribe's commitment to maintaining order. The image of her potentially falling "into the endless canyon of the sky" where "the buzzards would pick her bones" underscores the severity of her exile and the perilous nature of her newfound freedom.

In her exile, the woman experiences a profound shift. For the first time, she sleeps without the familiar sounds and safety of the pueblo, facing the vastness of the sky alone. This solitude marks a significant transformation. The "even breathing of the others" that once surrounded her is gone, replaced by the silence of her isolation. The old ones' assertion that "the pueblo is the world" highlights the insularity of the tribe's worldview, which the woman has now transcended, albeit at great personal cost.

"Desert Parable" thus becomes a meditation on the consequences of nonconformity and the quest for self-discovery in the face of rigid societal norms. The protagonist's journey from the pueblo to the open sky reflects a universal human experience of seeking meaning and identity beyond the confines of tradition. Wilner's rich imagery and poignant narrative evoke the timeless struggle between individual aspiration and communal expectation, ultimately suggesting that true freedom often requires leaving behind the known world, even when the path forward is fraught with uncertainty and danger.

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