Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"In the Beginning There Was the End of Solitude, Beginning Again:" by Norman Dubie is a richly descriptive and evocative poem that explores themes of creation, mortality, and the cyclical nature of life. The poem intertwines the act of artistic creation with reflections on death and the passage of time, using the death of Robert Lowell in 1977 as a focal point to anchor its broader meditations.

The poem opens with the image of a painter, described as "thin with auburn hair," who is deeply engaged in the act of painting a meadow. This painter is not just a creator but also part of the creation, as indicated by her interaction with the natural elements around her—the red gauze of her dress and the spider bite on her leg. These details not only ground the scene in physical reality but also hint at the intertwining of beauty and pain in the act of creation.

Dubie uses vivid imagery to depict the landscape the painter is working on, mentioning "ghostly silica orbs of dandelions" and other flowers that she plans to add to her canvas. This act of painting is paralleled with a morning scene where cream is skimmed off a saucer of bread and milk. The comparison of the cream to the petals of a buttercup caught in a wooden spoon subtly connects the act of painting with everyday gestures, suggesting that creation is both a mundane and a magical act.

The entrance of the painter’s black dog, jumping up to snap at dandelion seeds, introduces movement and life into the scene, contrasting with the stillness of death mentioned in the subsequent lines about the day of Lowell's death. The mention of a limousine entering a cemetery juxtaposes the vibrant life of the meadow with the solemnity of a funeral procession, deepening the poem's exploration of life and death.

The scene shifts to a classroom where a nude model, also with auburn hair, poses for art students. This setting mirrors the earlier description of the painter, emphasizing themes of observation, learning, and the transmission of knowledge—even knowledge that comes from understanding one's own body and its relation to the surrounding space. The detailed description of the model’s interaction with the students and the instructor highlights the intimate and sometimes uncomfortable closeness that can occur in the act of artistic creation.

Dubie’s use of detailed, sensory language throughout the poem enriches the reader's experience and underscores the themes of connection and transition. The poem closes on a note that connects the individual acts of creation seen throughout the poem to the broader, universal cycles of nature and life, suggesting that both solitude and companionship, life and death, are part of an ever-renewing process.

Overall, the poem is a contemplative reflection on the intersections between life and art, the personal and the universal, showing how moments of creation are deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the natural world and the inevitabilities of human existence.

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