Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Poetry of Eyes" by Madeline DeFrees is a lyrical exploration of the profound ways in which vision—both literal and metaphorical—interacts with and is informed by the poetic imagination. DeFrees weaves together references to several iconic poets and their works to articulate a multifaceted view of sight as a conduit for understanding, beauty, and spiritual inquiry. Through these literary allusions, the poem delves into the complexity of seeing, the intertwining of perception with thought and emotion, and the transformative power of poetry to illuminate the depths of human experience.

The opening lines reference Theodore Roethke's assertion from "In a Dark Time" that in moments of crisis or obscurity, the act of seeing takes on a new, profound meaning, suggesting that true vision emerges from darkness and is deeply connected to the heart's capacity to feel. This introduces the theme of the poem: the exploration of sight beyond the physical, engaging with the emotional and intellectual aspects of perception.

DeFrees expands on this by considering the "history of eyes," suggesting that our retinas bear the cumulative impressions of everything we've witnessed, every "stunning line of record." This notion aligns with the idea that our perceptions are not just passive recordings but are actively shaped by our interactions with the world, storing memories and insights that inform our understanding.

The reference to Louise Bogan's ambition for "A passion wholly of the mind" introduces a tension between the intellectual and the sensory, highlighting the desire to transcend physical limitations through the power of thought. This is contrasted with the "eye as horseman" in William Butler Yeats's "Under Ben Bulben," where the directive to "cast a cold eye / On Life, on death" suggests a detached, observant stance toward existence, underscoring the poem's exploration of the distance and objectivity that sight can sometimes entail.

The invocation of William Blake's "The Tyger," with its "fearful symmetry" observed by an "immortal hand or eye," brings a mystical dimension to the discussion, pointing to the eye's role in recognizing beauty and the sublime, as well as its engagement with eternal questions of creation and existence.

DeFrees then shifts to a biblical allusion with "God, too, burns bright in the Burning Bush," emphasizing the paradox of vision that requires a tempering of brilliance to be fully apprehended. This image serves as a metaphor for the overwhelming nature of divine or sublime encounters, which demand a mediating veil—whether of gossamer, belief, or poetic language—to be understood.

The poem closes with the notion of "the Indian summer of the eye," a metaphorical season of clarity and warmth that follows a period of dimming or decline. This concluding image encapsulates the poem's overarching theme: the cyclical nature of perception, which moves through phases of darkness and light, obscurity and revelation. Through the interplay of literary references and philosophical musings, "The Poetry of Eyes" presents vision as a deeply poetic act—capable of bridging the mundane and the miraculous, the temporal and the eternal.

DeFrees' poem itself acts as a testament to the power of poetry to expand and deepen our sight, encouraging readers to look beyond the surface and perceive the rich tapestry of meanings that underlies our experiences. Through its elegant interweaving of literary allusions and contemplative insights, "The Poetry of Eyes" invites readers to consider the myriad ways in which we see and understand the world around us, mediated through the lens of poetic imagination.

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