Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Verses Versus Verses" by Marvin Bell is a witty and insightful exploration of the lifecycle of a poet, using the metaphor of economic transactions to depict the poet's creative output over a lifetime. Through a humorous yet poignant narrative, Bell examines the costs—in terms of poetic production—associated with major life events, from courtship to retirement. The poem playfully quantifies these experiences in poems and lines, offering a unique perspective on the intertwining of life and art.

The poem begins with the courtship phase, humorously stating that it "costs seven poems," immediately setting the tone for how life's milestones are to be measured in poetic output. The "cost" of marriage is quantified as "three" poems, introducing the idea that significant personal commitments and changes have a creative price.

The birth of the first child is described as costing "more than just several" poems, suggesting that the profound impact of parenthood on the poet necessitates a greater creative expenditure. The observation that "succeeding births grow less expensive, but more routine" reflects on the nature of inspiration and the changing intensity of life experiences over time.

Bell expands the scope to include the long-term commitment of "the children's schooling," humorously costing "two decades and three or four hundred and thirty-seven poems, with some interest." This section underscores the ongoing, sometimes burdensome, nature of parental responsibilities and their influence on the poet's work.

The poem then shifts to the possibility of retirement, symbolized by the act of having the utilities disconnected—a decision that "costs four poems." The mention of a "good meal in a restaurant" costing "one hundred lines with a sonnet for the tip" illustrates the poet's continued investment in life's pleasures and the ongoing exchange between experience and creative expression.

Bell's repetition of "and you wouldn't have it any other way" emphasizes the poet's acceptance and embrace of life's demands and the corresponding necessity to create. This acceptance is tested in the metaphorical "hold-up" and the decision to "sell out," which includes "six thieves and a title for good measure," suggesting the eventual compromises and negotiations every poet faces between their art and the external world.

"Verses Versus Verses" is a clever and reflective commentary on the creative life, capturing the joy, challenges, and inevitable trade-offs involved in dedicating oneself to the craft of poetry. Through the inventive framework of quantifying life events as poetic costs, Marvin Bell celebrates the inseparable connection between personal experience and artistic creation, affirming the intrinsic value of both.

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