Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Communion" by Denise Duhamel is a powerful and disturbing poem that engages with real-life tragedy through the lens of irony and speculative reflection. The poem is dedicated to Monika Beerle, a Swiss dancer whose life was brutally taken by Daniel Rakowitz in New York City in 1989. Duhamel uses the horrific act of murder and cannibalism not only to explore the macabre details of the crime but also to delve into themes of transformation, control, and the spiritual implications of consuming another human being.

The poem begins by setting the scene with an excerpt from the New York Post, grounding the reader in the historical context of Rakowitz’s disturbing actions. This introduction serves as a stark reminder of the grim reality behind the narrative, emphasizing the gravity and horror of the events discussed. Duhamel then transitions into a hypothetical exploration of Rakowitz's psyche, suggesting that his dreams of consuming Beerle might represent various psychological desires or disorders, such as a metaphorical consumption related to dependency, passion, or a regressive desire to merge with his mother.

However, Duhamel quickly dispels this notion of metaphorical interpretation by confronting the reader with the stark reality: Rakowitz did not merely dream of these acts; he literally cooked and consumed parts of Beerle. This brutal fact is described in chilling detail, emphasizing the grotesqueness of the act and the twisted logic Rakowitz might have believed—that by consuming her, he could possess her completely, a common trope in stories of cannibalism linked to control and domination.

In a shift toward the speculative and ironic, Duhamel imagines a future where Rakowitz, transformed by his act of consuming Beerle, undergoes a profound spiritual change while in prison. This imagined transformation is laden with heavy irony and skepticism. Duhamel speculates that Rakowitz might adopt the traits of his victim—her dance style, her universal love, and her cultural tastes—as if the act of consuming her flesh has allowed him to assimilate her spirit.

The poem concludes with a fantastical vision of Rakowitz's further transformation and redemption, a scenario where he not only changes but is also freed to play himself in a television movie, profits from his story, and even starts a ministry. This scenario is deeply ironic, critiquing the ways in which society can sometimes grotesquely romanticize or commodify even the most heinous acts.

Through "Communion," Duhamel engages with the complexity of human psychology, the possible motivations behind monstrous acts, and the societal reactions to such acts. The poem challenges the reader to consider the paradoxes of human nature—how cruelty and transformation can be intertwined and how society often seeks narratives of redemption even in the darkest of stories. It is a haunting reflection on the limits of empathy and the strange ways in which human beings seek to find meaning and control through acts of violence.

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