Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Book of the Dead Man (Food)" by Marvin Bell is a meditation on existence, memory, and the sensual pleasures of food, framed within the paradoxical context of living as if one were already dead, as inspired by the Zen admonition. Through two sections, Bell explores the dead man's relationship with food, weaving together themes of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the pursuit of happiness against the backdrop of mortality.

1. About the Dead Man and Food

In the first section, Bell introduces the dead man's fondness for food, particularly dark chocolate, and his memories of foods as they once were—custard, spumoni, shave ice—evoking a sense of longing for the past and its unadulterated pleasures. The dead man's active engagement with food, his enjoyment of taste and texture, contrasts with his identity as "dead," suggesting that sensory pleasures transcend the boundaries between life and death.

The transition to salads represents a shift towards simplicity and perhaps health, yet it's the "cheese" and "crunch" that imbue these meals with satisfaction, indicating that even in simplicity, there is complexity and joy to be found. The dead man's "grassy disposition" humorously alludes to his affinity for greens, juxtaposed with his preference for more substantive fare, highlighting the balance between desire and moderation.

Memories of fishing and the abundance of the natural world underscore a connection to the environment and a time before industrialization altered food's purity. This nostalgia for "metal-free fish" and the communal activity of catching crabs reflect a longing for a simpler, more authentic connection to food sources.

2. More About the Dead Man and Food

The second section delves into the dead man's happiness, which, while it may appear "unseemly" for someone considered dead, is portrayed as a natural state that "befalls us." Bell critiques humanity's self-importance and the poets' obsession with the self as barriers to happiness and creativity, suggesting that a detachment from these preoccupations enables a freer, more joyful existence.

The dead man's experiences of life—its highs and lows, its balance and chaos—are recounted with vivid imagery, from the "orgasmic" to the "lightning-in-the-bottle." This range of sensations affirms the intensity and breadth of living, even in the context of death.

Bell's assertion that "You cannot make the dead man write what you want" speaks to the autonomy of the dead man (and perhaps the poet) in choosing his expressions, underscoring the importance of authenticity over external validation. The return to chocolate as an "existential" pleasure emphasizes the dead man's deliberate engagement with life's joys, despite or because of his status.

The poem concludes with the idea that the dead man embodies all emotions simultaneously, capturing the complexity of the human condition. The metaphor of the "fishhook that caught a finger" suggests that pain and pleasure are intertwined, and that to live fully, one must embrace the entirety of experience.

"The Book of the Dead Man (Food)" is a rich exploration of the ways in which food serves as a conduit for memory, pleasure, and reflection on the nature of existence. Marvin Bell uses the motif of the dead man to challenge conventional notions of life and death, inviting readers to consider the depth and variety of human experience through the simple, yet profound, act of eating.

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