Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"And Leave Show Business" by Ralph Burns is a deeply reflective and multifaceted poem that weaves together several narratives to explore themes of acceptance, the human condition, and the complexity of life's roles and experiences. Through a series of anecdotal reflections, the poem delves into the absurdity and tragedy inherent in human life, the inevitability of loss, and the search for meaning amidst the mundane.

The poem begins with a darkly humorous anecdote about an elephant keeper who, despite the grotesque nature of his job—shoving a hose up an elephant's ass daily—refuses to quit, jestingly remarking, "And leave show business?" This opening sets the tone for the poem, highlighting the paradox of human existence where even the most unpalatable tasks can become integral to one's identity and sense of purpose.

Burns then shifts to a more personal reflection, mentioning an unspecified individual who first informed him of the inevitability of death and the limitations of possibility. This transition from the absurd to the existential introduces the theme of confronting and accepting the fundamental truths of life.

The narrative moves to the speaker's experience working at a state mental hospital, where a patient claims to remember "Everything that ever happened." This claim to total recall, juxtaposed with the patient's loss of his beloved dog, introduces a poignant exploration of memory, loss, and the burden of awareness. The speaker's inability to offer comfort to the patient underscores the poem's meditation on the limitations of human connection and understanding.

The speaker recounts a memory of riding with Uncle Ralph, further exploring the theme of communication and the gaps that often exist between intention and perception. The uncle's frustration with the speaker's habitual "Really?" points to the difficulties of genuine interaction and the barriers to truly knowing one another.

The poem concludes with the speaker's contemplation of his roles as both the elephant keeper and the elephant, symbolizing the dual nature of human existence as both caretakers and subjects of our own lives. The imagery of the river, where "Everything is equal, is possible," serves as a metaphor for the flow of life and the ultimate equality and possibility inherent in existence and death.

"And Leave Show Business" employs a conversational tone and a nonlinear narrative structure to invite the reader into a contemplation of life's absurdities, sorrows, and the beauty of shared, albeit imperfect, human experiences. Burns's use of vivid anecdotes and reflective moments creates a rich tapestry of thought that challenges the reader to find coherence and meaning in the chaos and complexity of life.

POEM TEXT: https://poets.org/poem/and-leave-show-business

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