Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"One Story" by Dean Young is a poignant and evocative narrative that weaves together themes of creation, loss, memory, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Through a collage of personal anecdotes, historical references, and existential musings, Young crafts a layered exploration of the human condition, capturing the beauty and tragedy inherent in our attempts to make sense of our existence.

The poem begins with a mythical image of the coyote singing humanity into being, immediately situating the narrative within the realm of creation stories and the mysteries of origin. This imagery sets the stage for a meditation on the nature of the self, which Young describes with a mixture of humor and profundity as either "a single arrow shot into the sun" or "a long, squiggly thing wet at one end." This duality captures the tension between the aspirations of the human spirit and the messiness of our physical, earthly existence.

The reference to being observed "like lice on a tribal mask" from an external perspective introduces a theme of insignificance and the arbitrary nature of human life when viewed from a cosmic or detached standpoint. This image serves to humble the reader, reminding us of our smallness in the vast tapestry of the universe.

Young's invocation of Lorca, a poet murdered for his beliefs and associations, and Van Gogh, an artist who grappled with mental illness, grounds the poem in a history of creative genius touched by tragedy. These figures exemplify the poem's exploration of the beauty and pain of artistic expression, as well as the often-violent intersections of art, politics, and personal turmoil.

The contemplation of the seasons and the capriciousness of God in creating both beauty and death further expands on the theme of creation's dual nature. Young's admission of fear in the face of such creative power reflects a deep anxiety about the potential for destruction and suffering inherent in the act of bringing something new into the world.

The narrative shifts to a deeply personal reflection on the speaker's father, who collected paperweights as he approached death—a metaphor for the desire to hold onto something tangible amid the inevitability of loss. This anecdote serves as a poignant reminder of the human impulse to find meaning and permanence in a transient world.

The poem closes with a series of vivid, interconnected memories and images that encapsulate the speaker's reflections on mortality, memory, and the passage of time. The yellow suit worn once by the father, the speaker's commitment to observing a single branch in May, and the haunting image of a loved one sobbing among tomato plants—all these elements converge to create a mosaic of grief, love, and the search for understanding.

"One Story" is a testament to Dean Young's ability to navigate the complexities of human emotion and experience with sensitivity, humor, and a keen eye for the profound connections that bind us to each other and to the natural world. Through its rich imagery and narrative depth, the poem invites readers to contemplate the legacies we leave behind, the ways in which we cope with loss, and the enduring power of memory and love to transcend the boundaries of life and death.

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