Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Please," Robert Creeley presents a raw, almost desperate meditation on displacement, violence, and the yearning for belonging and understanding. The poem’s language is direct, stripped of ornamentation, capturing a sense of exhaustion and confusion in the face of a world marked by unrest and alienation. Through a series of fragmented thoughts and references to fellow poets Kenneth Patchen and Allen Ginsberg, Creeley weaves a plea for connection and respite, voicing a desire to escape the chaos and to find a place of comfort and clarity. The repetition of certain phrases—“people people people people,” “I want,” and “This is a poem”—reinforces the speaker’s sense of urgency and longing, as if through sheer repetition, they might reach the understanding and peace they crave.

The opening line, “Oh god, let’s go,” immediately establishes a tone of desperation and urgency, as if the speaker is pleading for an escape from the current state of the world. This exclamation captures a longing to flee from the circumstances surrounding them, a plea for liberation from an environment that feels unbearable. The address to “god” suggests that the speaker is looking for help or intervention beyond human means, reflecting a sense of helplessness in the face of uncontrollable forces. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which reads as a series of attempts to articulate the speaker’s discontent and to find solace amid turmoil.

“This is a poem for Kenneth Patchen. / Everywhere they are shooting people. / People people people people.” These lines bring attention to violence and societal decay, with the mention of Kenneth Patchen, a poet known for his socially conscious and anti-war writing, signaling the poem’s alignment with similar themes. By dedicating the poem to Patchen, Creeley aligns himself with a tradition of poets who confront brutality and advocate for peace. The repetition of “people” emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of violence, as though individuals are reduced to mere targets in a cycle of senseless aggression. This line reads as both an observation and a lament, capturing a world where human lives are constantly threatened, and the individuality of each person is overshadowed by the sheer scale of violence.

“This is a poem for Allen Ginsberg. / I want to be elsewhere, elsewhere.” The mention of Ginsberg, another poet known for his outspoken critique of society’s injustices, further underscores Creeley’s alignment with voices of protest and discontent. By expressing a desire to be “elsewhere,” the speaker conveys a deep-seated wish to escape from the reality that surrounds them. The repetition of “elsewhere” emphasizes the intensity of this longing, suggesting that the current world is so fraught with pain and confusion that even an undefined “elsewhere” would be preferable. This line conveys both a physical and an emotional yearning, as if the speaker feels trapped not only in a place but within a mindset shaped by disillusionment and helplessness.

“This is a poem about a horse that got tired. / Poor. Old. Tired. Horse.” This line introduces a symbol of weariness and decline, with the tired horse representing the exhaustion that permeates the poem. The horse’s fatigue could be a metaphor for the speaker’s own sense of exhaustion, as if they, too, are worn down by the weight of their experiences and observations. The repeated, staccato words—“Poor. Old. Tired. Horse.”—capture a sense of sympathy, as though the speaker is acknowledging the weariness that affects not only themselves but all beings who endure hardship and toil. This image speaks to the universal experience of fatigue and the inevitable toll of time and struggle on every living creature.

“I want to go home. / I want you to go home.” These lines express a profound longing for comfort and security, with “home” representing a place of familiarity and peace. The desire for both the speaker and the addressee to “go home” suggests a wish for mutual safety and reassurance, as if both parties are adrift in a world that offers no refuge. This longing for home is intensified by the fact that it appears unattainable; “home” becomes an idealized place of safety that contrasts starkly with the present reality. The repetition of “I want” throughout the poem underscores a sense of yearning that remains unfulfilled, highlighting the speaker’s sense of displacement and isolation.

“This is a poem which tells the story, which is the story. / I don’t know. I get lost.” These lines capture a moment of self-reflection and confusion, as if the speaker is attempting to make sense of their own narrative but finds themselves unable to grasp its coherence. By saying “which is the story,” Creeley suggests that the act of telling is itself an attempt to capture meaning or understanding, even if that meaning remains elusive. The admission of “I don’t know. I get lost” conveys a vulnerability and a lack of clarity, mirroring the disorientation felt in the face of a chaotic world. This line implies that even language and storytelling, which are typically tools for making sense of experience, may fail to provide clarity in times of confusion.

“If only they would stand still and let me.” This line captures a yearning for stability amid chaos, as though the speaker wishes the world would pause long enough for them to gather their thoughts and emotions. The desire for people to “stand still” reflects a frustration with the relentless pace of change and violence, suggesting that the speaker feels unable to process or respond to events because they unfold too rapidly. This line speaks to the broader human desire for moments of stillness and contemplation, where understanding and connection might be possible without the interference of constant upheaval.

“Are you happy, sad, not happy, please come.” This fragmentary line reflects the speaker’s yearning for connection, asking simple yet profound questions that transcend any one emotional state. The uncertainty of “happy, sad, not happy” implies a search for something stable amid shifting emotions, a wish for clarity or reassurance from another person. The final plea, “please come,” underscores the speaker’s need for companionship or comfort, as though they are reaching out in a moment of vulnerability. This line captures the complexity of human emotions, where conflicting feelings coexist, and the desire for understanding and connection remains ever-present.

“This is a poem for everyone.” The closing line broadens the poem’s scope, transforming it from a personal lament into a universal message. By dedicating the poem “for everyone,” Creeley emphasizes that the experiences of confusion, fear, and longing he expresses are shared by all, resonating across individual lives. This inclusive sentiment reflects a desire for solidarity and shared understanding, as if to say that in a world rife with suffering and displacement, the act of sharing one’s thoughts and feelings becomes a means of connecting with others. The line suggests that, despite the speaker’s sense of isolation, there is a common humanity that binds everyone together in their struggles.

Structurally, "Please" is a series of fragmented statements and appeals, each line building upon the last to create a cumulative expression of yearning and discontent. The repetition of certain phrases, such as “This is a poem” and “I want,” reinforces the speaker’s sense of urgency, as though they are attempting to make sense of their feelings through sheer reiteration. The poem’s disjointed structure mirrors the speaker’s emotional state, conveying a sense of confusion and restlessness.

In "Please," Robert Creeley captures the exhaustion and disillusionment of a world marred by violence and alienation, using simple, direct language to express profound existential questions. The poem’s dedication to fellow poets Kenneth Patchen and Allen Ginsberg, both known for their critiques of societal injustice, situates Creeley within a tradition of poets grappling with the human condition. Through fragmented thoughts and recurring desires for escape and connection, "Please" becomes a meditation on the challenges of living in a fractured world, where the longing for peace, belonging, and understanding remains deeply felt but elusive. Ultimately, the poem serves as both a personal lament and a universal appeal, inviting readers to confront the shared anxieties and aspirations that define human experience.

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