Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Good Day Good Evening" by Robert Desnos is a lyrical exploration of the juxtapositions of life, the inevitable passage of time, and the illusions we maintain about our own nature and mortality. Through concise and evocative imagery, Desnos weaves a narrative that challenges perceptions of age, beauty, and the inescapable reality of aging, all while celebrating the moments of life that defy temporal constraints.

The poem opens with an invocation of the night as a flame, a symbol of vitality and passion that colors the clouds red. This vibrant beginning serves as a reminder of life's enduring fervor, even as darkness falls. The greeting, "Good day sir Good evening madam," extends a universal welcome, blurring the lines between day and night, beginnings and endings, suggesting the continuous cycle of existence.

"You don't look your age" is a phrase often used as a compliment, implying that one's physical appearance does not reflect the actual number of years lived. Desnos plays with this notion, questioning the value and truth behind it. What importance do these markers of time hold if the essence of our experiences can make "the twin stars bleed"? This line metaphorically captures the intensity and depth of human connections that transcend time, suggesting that the passions and emotions we experience leave their mark on the universe itself.

The poet then shifts to challenge the facade of youth, "What does it matter if your face is painted / if hoarfrost glitters on the branches." The imagery of painted faces juxtaposed with the natural beauty of hoarfrost-covered branches questions the value of artificial attempts to mask aging. Desnos suggests that there is beauty to be found in the natural progression of life, in the same way that there is beauty in the natural world, untouched and unaltered.

The concluding lines, "Of granite or marble / Your age will show / And the shade of the great trees," bring the poem to a reflective close. The materials granite and marble, symbols of strength and permanence, are contrasted with the inevitability of aging. No matter how enduring we wish to be, time leaves its mark on us all. Yet, there is a subtle reassurance in the "shade of the great trees," suggesting that there is comfort and perhaps even protection to be found in embracing our true selves and the passage of time.

"Good Day Good Evening" captures the essence of human existence in its brief stanzas, melding the eternal with the ephemeral, the vibrant flame of life with the quiet acceptance of aging. Desnos's poem is a reminder to celebrate the moments that make the stars bleed, to find beauty in the natural course of life, and to accept the passing of time with grace, knowing that in the shade of life's great trees, we find our most genuine selves.

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