Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Under Ground" by Robert Duncan is a complex and layered poem that meditates on themes of memory, death, and the metaphorical and literal underpinnings of the human condition. Duncan weaves together historical, mythological, and personal references to explore how the past, both collective and individual, informs our present existence.

The poem opens with an evocative sequence of transformations: "First more-than-fire, then liquid stone, then stone." This progression from fire to stone suggests a journey from the intangible or ephemeral to the solid and enduring, setting the stage for a contemplation of how transient moments solidify into history, memory, and legacy.

Duncan poses the question, "where do the dead go?" which he answers with images of the dead turning "upon their own steps" in "utter subjectivity." This reflects the idea that the dead live on in their actions and decisions, continually influencing the living through the memories and consequences of their lives. The imagery of the old being preserved in various forms — "dress in full regalia, dried; hung in thorn trees; potted; boxd, the polishd bones cleansed of rot" — underscores the ways in which societies attempt to honor and remember their dead, symbolically keeping them present.

The poem references specific historical and literary figures, such as Hippokleas, Ford Madox Ford, and Mr. W.H. (potentially referring to the mysterious dedicatee of Shakespeare’s sonnets), tying them to the broader theme of remembrance and the endurance of their legacies. The mention of "Love's.. Hate's a monument too!" suggests that both love and hate leave lasting marks, becoming monuments to the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

Duncan then shifts to broader metaphysical and cosmological reflections, using the imagery of a great clock and celestial movements ("there's a great clock upon which the pole star will return, turn, and return") to symbolize the cycles of time and history, as well as the recurring nature of human endeavors and fates. The reference to "Cheops' stone mountain" and "Homer underwrites not adventure but the long journey home" connects the poem to themes of epic scale and the quest for meaning through the journey, not just the destination.

The poem also touches on the personal impact of historical events, as in the "cenotaph for Jeff Rall who in youth fell at Dunkirk." This line personalizes the previously grand and historical scale, bringing the theme of remembrance to a specific, individual level. The mention of mourning, the cycle of the year, and references to nature and the seasons ("an allegiance to the unmentiond, a constancy in avoiding the well-spring in searching for water") further enrich the poem's exploration of how personal and collective histories intertwine.

"Under Ground" ultimately serves as a profound reflection on the ways in which individuals and societies remember, honor, and are haunted by the past. Duncan's use of rich imagery, historical and mythological references, and personal anecdotes creates a dense, textured meditation on the presence of the past in our lives and the ongoing dialogue between the living and the dead. Through this dialogue, Duncan suggests, we continually renegotiate our understanding of ourselves and our place in the continuum of history and time.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...