Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s "The Mirror" offers a stark and existential reflection on human mortality, disillusionment, and the consequences of human isolation or difference. The poem wrestles with the theme of death, which is portrayed as an ever-present, inescapable reality that challenges faith and human identity. Through Creeley’s characteristic minimalist style, the poem explores the loss of hope and the cost of human estrangement, making it a powerful meditation on the frailty of existence and the consequences of our collective actions.

The opening line, "Seeing is believing," sets a tone of directness and simplicity, evoking a common phrase often used to emphasize that tangible evidence is necessary for belief. However, in the context of the poem, this phrase takes on a darker connotation. What we "see" here is not just any truth, but specifically the harsh truth of death, which becomes the foundation of what is "believable." This line introduces the theme of disillusionment, suggesting that what is visible—death and the consequences of human actions—overrides any idealistic or hopeful beliefs that might have existed.

The next lines, "Whatever was thought or said, / these persistent, inexorable deaths," emphasize the inevitability of death. "Whatever was thought or said" implies that no matter what ideas or words were once held, they are ultimately powerless against the relentless force of death. The description of death as "persistent" and "inexorable" reinforces its inevitability and its continuous, unrelenting nature. There is a sense of helplessness here, as the poem suggests that human thoughts, beliefs, and expressions—however important they may seem—cannot alter or halt the reality of mortality.

The phrase "make faith as such absent" marks a turning point in the poem. The inevitability of death leads to the erosion of faith, as the speaker suggests that faith itself becomes impossible or irrelevant in the face of such inexorable loss. The idea that death renders faith "absent" points to a crisis of belief—whether religious, existential, or philosophical. The speaker seems to question the validity or usefulness of faith when confronted with the certainty of death, which strips away hope and meaning.

The next lines, "our humanness a question, / a disgust for what we are," introduce a deeper existential crisis. Not only is faith absent, but even the very notion of what it means to be human is now in question. The speaker suggests that, in light of persistent death and disillusionment, human identity and purpose become uncertain. The phrase "a disgust for what we are" expresses a profound self-repulsion, as if the speaker—or perhaps humanity as a whole—has become disillusioned with the human condition. This disgust may stem from the recognition of human frailty, mortality, or perhaps the moral failings that have led to this crisis. There is a sense of guilt or shame here, as if the speaker is reckoning with the darker aspects of human nature.

The lines "Whatever the hope, / here it is lost" underscore the bleakness of the poem’s message. Hope, like faith, is rendered powerless in the face of death and disillusionment. The repetition of "here" grounds the sense of loss in the present moment, reinforcing that this is not a distant or abstract loss but something immediate and tangible. The use of the word "lost" implies that hope once existed, but has now been irretrievably abandoned.

The final lines, "Because we coveted our difference, / here is the cost," introduce a critical reflection on human behavior. The phrase "coveted our difference" suggests that humanity’s desire for separation, individuality, or superiority—whether over each other or over the natural world—has led to the current state of disillusionment and despair. This desire for difference may refer to the divisions between people, the isolation of individuals from each other, or the way humans have distanced themselves from the interconnectedness of life. The word "coveted" implies that this desire was excessive or selfish, and the final line, "here is the cost," suggests that the current existential crisis, marked by disillusionment, death, and loss of faith, is the price humanity must pay for its selfishness and separation.

Structurally, "The Mirror" follows Creeley’s typical use of short, enjambed lines, which create a sense of fragmentation and immediacy. The poem’s sparse language mirrors the bleakness of its message, with each line contributing to the growing sense of loss and disillusionment. The lack of punctuation allows the poem to flow from one thought to the next, reflecting the relentless progression of the speaker’s reflections on mortality and human failure.

Thematically, "The Mirror" delves into existential despair, questioning the very foundations of faith, hope, and human identity. The mirror, implied in the title, may symbolize the act of reflection—both literal and metaphorical. The speaker confronts not only their own mortality but also the larger existential condition of humanity, recognizing the cost of human isolation and selfishness. The poem suggests that death, disillusionment, and the loss of faith are the inevitable consequences of humanity’s desire for difference and separation.

In conclusion, Robert Creeley’s "The Mirror" is a stark and introspective poem that explores themes of mortality, disillusionment, and the consequences of human separation. Through minimalist language and existential reflections, Creeley confronts the reader with the harsh realities of death and the resulting loss of faith and hope. The poem ultimately suggests that humanity’s desire for difference and isolation has led to a profound existential crisis, leaving the speaker—and perhaps humanity as a whole—facing the inevitable cost of these actions: a world where faith is absent, hope is lost, and humanness itself is in question.

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