Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Unkingd by Affection" by Robert Duncan is a meditation on the complexities of desire, pleasure, and the internal landscapes of the self as governed by emotion and imagination. This poem explores the transformation and consequences of moving from a realm governed by structured desires—an "empire"—to one of unstructured, anarchic pleasures. Duncan uses rich imagery and philosophical insights to delve into the psychological and emotional shifts that accompany such a change.

The opening line, "One exchanges the empire of one’s desire for the anarchy of pleasures," sets the tone for the poem, suggesting a deliberate shift from a state of controlled, hierarchical desire to a more chaotic experience of pleasure. This idea of exchange implies a conscious decision but also introduces the theme of unpredictability in what one receives in return.

Duncan quickly complicates this notion by stating, "But pleasures themselves one finds are not domestic." This line underscores the inherent wildness and unpredictability of pleasures—they cannot be tamed, controlled, or made comfortably habitual ("domestic"). This realization points to the essential otherness of pleasure, its refusal to be fully integrated into the orderly structures of everyday life.

The phrase "And the trouble of the soul casts jewel-like reflections upon the daily surfaces" suggests that inner conflicts or disturbances of the spirit, while potentially troubling, add a layer of beauty and complexity to ordinary life. These "jewel-like reflections" transform mundane realities, highlighting how internal experiences can enrich external perceptions.

As Duncan develops these themes, he introduces a vivid metaphorical world: "One has moved only to a world where the devoted household commonplaces cast shadows that are empires; where the warmth of the hearth is kept alive in a cold that extends infinitely, the dreams of a king, ruthless in his omnipotence." In this world, even the most ordinary elements of domestic life ("devoted household commonplaces") assume monumental, imperial significance. The "warmth of the hearth" represents a fragile, vital comfort against the backdrop of an "infinitely" cold reality—an existential coldness, perhaps, suggesting the isolation and alienation inherent in human experience.

The poem then moves into an exploration of power and delusion: "A plenitude of powers, an over-reaching inspired pretension, an unum sanctum, a papal conceit over all beloved things." Here, Duncan critiques the grandiosity and hubris that can accompany human endeavors and desires—the "plenitude of powers" and "papal conceit" serve as metaphors for the often overblown self-importance and authoritarian impulses that people can project onto their surroundings and relationships.

Finally, the poem closes with a return to the theme of shelter and internal refuge: "We live within our selves then, like honest woodsmen within a tyrannical forest, a magical element." This imagery evokes a sense of rugged survivalism and simplicity ("honest woodsmen") amidst the threatening, oppressive, yet enchanting chaos of life ("a tyrannical forest, a magical element"). The "shelterd by our humble imaginary lives from the eternal storm of our rage" concludes the poem on a note of introspective retreat, suggesting that in the imaginative constructs of our minds, we find protection from the overwhelming passions and turmoil that characterize our deeper selves.

"Unkingd by Affection" is thus a profound reflection on the inner dynamics of human desire, the transformative power of pleasure, and the ways in which individuals navigate the complex interplay between their inner worlds and external realities. Through this exploration, Duncan reveals the dual nature of human consciousness—capable of both monumental creation and profound self-deception.

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