Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"And As In Alice" by Mary Jo Bang is a contemplative and imaginative poem that delves into the nature of metaphor, childhood, and the creative process. Through the lens of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Bang explores the complexities of using metaphors within metaphors and the boundless possibilities of imagination.

The poem begins with a statement that Alice cannot be in the poem because she represents a metaphor for childhood, and since a poem is inherently metaphorical, including her would result in a metaphor within a metaphor. This opening sets up a playful yet profound meditation on the layers of meaning and representation in literature and art.

Despite the consensus that Alice cannot be part of the poem, the narrative focus shifts to a girl with her head in a rabbit hole, visually reminiscent of Alice's curiosity and desire to explore unknown worlds. The comparison of her appearance to "the flattened backside / Of  a black and white panda" injects a whimsical and visual humor into the poem, emphasizing the blend of reality and fantasy that characterizes childhood imagination.

The girl's contemplation of the potential dangers of falling into the darkness she's peering into opens up a space for speculation about the nature of the world below. Bang's references to strange creatures singing songs with "sibilant end at the end" and the "form of  light  hissing" evoke the surreal and nonsensical elements of Alice's Wonderland, inviting readers to consider the ways in which language and sound shape our perception of reality.

The poem's speculation on whether a snake would require a tree in this imagined world, and whether one could grow a tree from seed or make a cat that fades away upon the mention of rational thought, playfully engages with the logic—or lack thereof—inherent in dreams and stories. This exploration of creation and disappearance highlights the tension between imagination and rationality, between the fantastical and the logical.

The final lines, with their mention of "rational thought / With an axe beating on the forest door," suggest the intrusion of logic and reason into the realm of imagination. This imagery evokes the idea of the adult world encroaching on the innocence and freedom of childhood, a theme that resonates with the original Alice's journey through Wonderland.

"And As In Alice" is a richly layered poem that invites readers to reflect on the power of metaphor, the enchantment of childhood, and the creative potential that lies in embracing the illogical and the fantastical. Through her inventive use of imagery and reference to Lewis Carroll's classic tale, Mary Jo Bang offers a poetic meditation on the complexities and wonders of the imagination.

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