Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Going" by April Bernard is a contemplative and evocative poem that navigates the themes of uncertainty, longing, and the search for meaning in a world where absolutes like "God and love" feel distant. Through the metaphor of travel and the transformation of a once-cherished cloth, Bernard explores the emotional landscapes of departure and return, highlighting the solitary nature of these journeys and the existential questions they evoke.

The poem begins with the image of "The cloth edge of certainty" unraveling, a powerful metaphor for the erosion of conviction and assurance in the speaker's life. This unraveling leads to a stark realization: "God and love are real, / but very far away." This statement sets the tone for the poem, capturing a sense of spiritual and emotional remoteness that permeates the speaker's world.

The mention of Istanbul as a destination introduces the motif of travel, symbolizing both the allure of the unknown and the inherent risks of seeking fulfillment beyond one's familiar surroundings. The distinction between the questions "If I go to Istanbul, will I return?" and "When I go to Istanbul, how will I bear to return?" reflects a shift from uncertainty about the journey itself to apprehension about the emotional consequences of returning. This shift underscores the poem's exploration of the internal conflicts and changes that travel and exposure to new experiences can provoke.

The speaker's yearning to "slip into the small streets / to the high plain and the Caucasus" suggests a desire to escape, to immerse oneself in the vastness and mystery of the world. Yet, this desire is tempered by the recognition that both "the returning" and "the going" are solitary endeavors, marked by a profound sense of aloneness.

The transformation of the cloth from a source of cheer in a skirt to a utilitarian object that "now dries dishes" symbolizes the passage of time and the changing significance of objects and experiences in our lives. This once vibrant cloth, with its "blocks of blue and lemon," becomes a poignant symbol of the speaker's nostalgia and the fading of joy and certainty.

The poem concludes with a reiteration of the distance between the speaker and the concepts of "God and love," emphasizing that this spiritual and emotional gap feels even more insurmountable than the geographical distance to the mountains in the east. This final image reinforces the poem's themes of longing and the search for meaning in a world where the absolutes that once provided comfort and direction now seem unreachable.

"The Going" is a beautifully crafted meditation on the complexities of human experience, characterized by a deep sense of introspection and a poignant acknowledgment of the solitary nature of our most profound journeys. Through her delicate use of imagery and metaphor, April Bernard invites readers to reflect on their own searches for meaning, love, and connection in a world that often feels vast and indifferent.

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