Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Come Let Me Free Myself" by Robert Duncan is an introspective poem that wrestles with the concepts of freedom, attachment, and self-imposed limitations. Through the voice of a speaker who is both reflective and yearning for liberation, Duncan explores the dualities of connection and solitude, and the inner conflicts that accompany the desire for independence.

The poem opens with a plea for liberation: "Come, let me free myself from all that I love." This line immediately sets a tone of conflict between the desire to be unencumbered and the natural human inclination to form attachments. The speaker recognizes the paradox in wanting to be free from what he loves while also acknowledging the burden of his affections. This is further complicated by his wish to "free what I love from me, let it go free," suggesting a noble but painful recognition that his own needs or presence might constrain the freedom of the things or people he loves.

The speaker expresses a desire to serve and obey without bounds, which introduces a theme of submission and devotion—perhaps to a higher ideal or to the journey of life itself. Yet, there's an inherent struggle in this submission, as he also seeks freedom from the "master I set over me," indicating an internal authority that demands strict adherence to moral and ethical standards ("exact rectitude upon rectitude, right over right"). This self-imposed mastery is both a guide and a chain that he wishes to escape.

The imagery of hitchhiking by the road encapsulates the theme of journey and transition. The speaker is literally and metaphorically at a crossroads, caught between movement and stasis. His mixed feelings about being glad that "no one has come along" reflect a deeper ambivalence about moving forward and leaving behind the comfort of the familiar, represented by his feeling "at home in the sun."

Duncan skillfully contrasts the physical act of waiting for a ride with the existential state of readiness and impatience: "Not waiting, but standing here. And, on the other, I am waiting, to be on the way, that it be my way." This duality captures the human condition of being simultaneously content yet restless, present in the moment yet looking toward the future.

Ultimately, the speaker calls for a release from his own desires and ways, recognizing that he himself might be the greatest obstacle to his freedom ("I stand in the way, my destination stands in the way"). He seeks to unbind himself from the "comforting chains" of love and attachment, implying that true freedom involves letting go of not only the things he loves but also the very patterns and paths that define him.

"Come Let Me Free Myself" is a profound exploration of the internal struggles that define the human experience: the desire for freedom versus the comfort of attachment, the call of duty versus the yearning for liberation, and the journey of self-discovery that requires both relinquishing and embracing aspects of oneself. Through this poem, Duncan invites the reader to reflect on their own attachments, desires, and the freedoms they seek, illuminating the complex dance between letting go and holding on.

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