Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s poem "The Memory" is a striking exploration of a vivid, unforgettable character whose presence looms like a force of nature. Through raw, unconventional language and rich metaphor, Creeley conjures a figure who defies simple categorization—simultaneously nurturing and destructive, intimate yet mythic. This character is depicted as a complex woman whose life, behavior, and impact seem to resonate deeply with the speaker, evoking a mixture of awe, affection, and perhaps regret. In Creeley’s typical minimalist style, the poem offers a portrayal that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, examining the power certain people hold in memory.

The opening line, "Like a river she was," immediately establishes the central metaphor, comparing the woman to a river. This analogy suggests not only her strength and vitality but also her unpredictability and potential for chaos. A river is a life-giving force, yet it can also be dangerous and untamable, characteristics that reflect the complex nature of the woman being described. The image of a river evokes both fluidity and force, suggesting that she possessed a dynamic, uncontrollable spirit. This line sets the tone for the poem, hinting at the depth and wildness that define this woman’s memory in the speaker’s mind.

Describing her as a "huge roily mass of water / carrying tree trunks / and drivers drunks" gives the reader a sense of her overwhelming presence and impact. The word "roily," meaning turbulent or muddy, reinforces the idea that she was not a calm or serene figure, but rather one whose essence was tumultuous, stirring up everything in her path. The image of her "carrying tree trunks" suggests strength and the capacity to uproot, while the mention of "drivers drunks" implies a chaotic, almost dangerous magnetism. These lines convey that she was a powerful and perhaps morally ambiguous figure—someone who left an indelible mark on those around her, affecting their lives whether positively or negatively.

The comparison to "a Pricilla, a feminine Benjamin" is peculiar, combining seemingly disparate images to form a layered, ambiguous portrait. The name "Pricilla" may evoke associations with femininity, traditional roles, or perhaps biblical references, while "Benjamin" could be a reference to the youngest son of Jacob in the Bible, a figure who was beloved and protected. By calling her "a feminine Benjamin," Creeley may be emphasizing her uniqueness, positioning her as someone who carried both traditionally feminine qualities and an unusual, almost prophetic role within her community. This description suggests that she was a paradox, embodying both the familiar and the extraordinary, the conventional and the disruptive.

The phrase "a whore gone right over / the falls" injects a jarring, almost brutal imagery into the poem. By using the term "whore," Creeley confronts societal judgments and the stigma often associated with women who defy social expectations, particularly in terms of sexuality or lifestyle. The image of her "going right over the falls" implies a sense of recklessness or abandonment, as if she embraced her identity fully, without regard for the consequences. This portrayal suggests that she lived boldly and perhaps self-destructively, plunging into life with a fearlessness that others might have found unsettling. The waterfall imagery further connects back to the river metaphor, symbolizing a point of no return, a life lived without the restraint or caution that society might impose.

The line "she was" stands alone, almost as a sigh or a resigned acknowledgment. This brevity gives her identity a sense of finality and permanence, as if her essence, her "was," is irrefutable and unquestionable in the speaker’s memory. It implies that she existed in a way that was undeniably hers, a fact that remains etched into the speaker’s recollection, even if it remains challenging to fully understand or categorize.

The questions that follow—"Did you know her. / Did you love her, brother."—shift the tone to a more intimate, conversational one, as if the speaker is addressing someone directly. These questions invite the reader into a shared reflection, prompting them to consider their own memories of enigmatic or impactful people. The address to "brother" suggests a bond of shared experience or a collective memory, as if the woman was not only significant to the speaker but to an entire community. The question "Did you love her" implies that she inspired not only fascination but also genuine affection, even if complicated by the aspects of her life that were "roily" or tumultuous.

The final lines, "Did wonder pour down / on the whole goddamn town," elevate the woman’s impact to a communal level. Her life and presence, it seems, had a ripple effect that touched everyone around her, saturating the town with a sense of awe, confusion, or even reverence. The phrase "wonder pour down" evokes an image of rain or a flood, connecting back to the river motif and suggesting that her influence was as pervasive and encompassing as water. Her memory becomes almost mythic, a force that continues to "pour down" and affect the town even in her absence. The use of "goddamn" adds a tone of exasperation or disbelief, as if the speaker is acknowledging both the beauty and the frustration of her impact—a kind of resigned admiration.

Structurally, "The Memory" is brief and fragmented, with lines that shift between descriptive imagery and direct address. Creeley’s characteristic lack of punctuation and enjambed lines create a sense of flow, mirroring the river metaphor and reflecting the fluid, continuous nature of memory. The poem’s simplicity belies its emotional depth, as each line contributes to an atmosphere of reverence mixed with sorrow, admiration tinged with regret.

Through "The Memory," Creeley presents a character whose life and essence were powerful enough to linger in the minds of those who knew her, affecting not just individuals but an entire community. Her memory is like the river—unstoppable, forceful, carrying with it traces of both beauty and destruction. In this poem, Creeley explores how certain people leave lasting impressions that are difficult to reconcile, forcing those left behind to grapple with the intensity of their lives. In the end, "The Memory" is a meditation on the enduring, sometimes haunting impact of those who live fully, even when their paths are turbulent and their choices unconventional.

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