Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"In a Restless World Like This Is" by Charles Bernstein is a meditation on the elusiveness of memory, the passage of time, and the inexorable pressures of life. Through a tapestry of vivid imagery and linguistic play, Bernstein explores the ways in which reality, memory, and perception intertwine and confound each other, reflecting the inherent restlessness of the human condition.

The poem opens with the speaker recounting a moment that may or may not have occurred, immediately placing the reader in a realm of uncertainty. This ambiguity sets the tone for the entire poem, which dwells in the spaces between certainty and doubt, presence and absence. The phrase "Not long ago, or maybe I dreamt it / Or made it up, or have suddenly lost / Track of its train in the hocus pocus / Of the dissolving days" captures the fluidity of time and the ease with which the past can become obscured by the present's relentless forward motion.

Bernstein's use of the phrase "hocus pocus" suggests a magician's trick, implying that our memories and perceptions are often illusions, subject to manipulation and distortion. This idea is reinforced by the image of the speaker attempting to approach a problem "From all three sides at once, or bounce the ball / Against all manner of bleary-eyed fortune / Tellers." Here, Bernstein illustrates the human tendency to seek understanding and predictability in a world that is inherently unpredictable and resistant to straightforward interpretation.

The assertion that "Nothing up my sleeves" further plays with the theme of illusion and reality, suggesting that, despite appearances, there is no hidden trickery at work in the unfolding of life's events. The mention of rocks breaking under pressure serves as a metaphor for the human experience—highlighting the idea that even the most solid and enduring entities can succumb to external forces.

Bernstein then delves into the concept of journey and destination, stating, "As far as you go / In one direction, all the further you’ll / Have to go on before the way back has / Become totally indivisible." This paradoxical observation speaks to the nature of progress and regress, suggesting that every action and movement carries with it the weight of its opposite. The further one ventures from a starting point, the more entangled one becomes in the journey itself, making the return not just a reversal but an integral part of the forward motion.

The poem's structure, free-form and devoid of punctuation, mirrors the content's fluidity and the theme of continuous motion. Bernstein's language is both precise and ambiguous, requiring the reader to navigate the poem's layers of meaning actively. This engagement mirrors the poem's exploration of how individuals navigate their lives—constantly interpreting, reinterpreting, and attempting to make sense of the world around them.

"In a Restless World Like This Is" ultimately reflects Bernstein's interest in the limits and possibilities of language, as well as his commitment to exploring the complexities of human consciousness. Through its intricate play of ideas and images, the poem invites readers to contemplate the ways in which they construct their realities and the role of memory, perception, and interpretation in shaping their understanding of the world. Bernstein offers no easy answers but instead presents a lyrical inquiry into the nature of existence, marked by its restlessness and perpetual search for meaning.

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