Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Three Trees" by Mary Jo Bang is a vividly surreal poem that intertwines natural imagery, the unsettling intrusion of human development, and pop culture references to explore themes of transformation, danger, and the unexpected. Through a series of striking visual scenes, Bang crafts a narrative that is both whimsical and ominous, inviting the reader into a world where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.

The opening lines juxtapose the natural harmony of aqua green and pink with the unpredictability of outcomes ("in a way no one knows what will happen"). This sets the tone for a poem where beauty coexists with potential peril ("Every step is a dangerous taking"). The image of a tree trunk with a door that opens to reveal someone questioning its existence introduces elements of magic realism, suggesting that nature contains hidden narratives and mysteries.

The "green curtain" that acts as a "pressed chime" and the dogwood that appears white as if heralding a storm further illustrate the poem's focus on the dynamic and sometimes volatile relationship between the natural world and human perception.

As the poem progresses, the imagery shifts from the organic to the urban and the fantastical. The mention of "Brick crumbles into living pond particle" suggests the decay of human-made structures back into natural elements, while the "bent hook holds back / the last dissolve" implies a fragile barrier against complete dissolution. This transition from solidity to fragmentation reflects the poem's exploration of impermanence and transformation.

The leap over a "sharky sea" and the reference to "Elm Street" blend elements of danger and popular culture, evoking a sense of adventure and the narratives of horror and fantasy that permeate our collective imagination. The sudden appearance of "Toon Town" and "Jimmy Neutron" catapults the reader into a world where cartoon logic and the laws of physics create a playful yet unsettling reality.

The poem's climax revolves around the trope of a looming disaster at a nuclear power plant, a scenario familiar from countless stories of heroism and apocalypse in media. Jimmy's quest to find the "elusive button" to prevent catastrophe is fraught with tension, amplified by the "siren and standing-by fire truck."

Despite the dramatic stakes, the poem maintains a tone of irreverence and absurdity, as evidenced by the "fetishistic pompadour / green, greener and paler than bluebird." The resolution, or lack thereof, with the "messenger" and the "racketing aside" leaves the outcome ambiguous, underscoring the poem's engagement with the unpredictable and the capricious nature of existence.

The concluding image of a "celluloid woman / mows a multilayered lawn" in the aftermath of an "apocalypse" captures the surreal and cyclical quality of the narrative. It suggests that even in the face of destruction and renewal, mundane activities persist, perhaps as a way to anchor oneself in the midst of chaos.

"Three Trees" is a complex tapestry of images and ideas that challenges conventional interpretations and invites the reader to consider the interplay between nature, human intervention, and the stories we tell to make sense of our world. Mary Jo Bang's poem is a kaleidoscopic journey through landscapes both familiar and fantastical, where every element is imbued with multiple meanings and possibilities.

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