Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Peter Gizzi's "It Was Raining in Delft" is a vivid, contemplative piece that captures the interplay of memory, place, and emotion. The poem paints a detailed picture of a cityscape—Delft—while intertwining the speaker's personal reflections and sense of connection to someone named Liz.

The poem opens with a grounding in physical reality: "A cornerstone. Marble pilings. Curbstones and brick." These images of foundational structures set the stage for the sensory journey that follows. The mention of rooftops and the sun emerging after a rain shower evokes a sense of renewal and clarity, contrasting with the earlier rain.

Gizzi then introduces a personal element: "Liz, there are children in clumsy jackets. Cobblestones / and the sun now in a curbside pool." The invocation of Liz personalizes the scene, suggesting that the observations are being shared with someone specific, which adds a layer of intimacy. The children in "clumsy jackets" and the sun reflecting in a pool create a snapshot of everyday life imbued with warmth and nostalgia.

The speaker mentions an intention to call Liz, reinforcing the personal connection: "I will call in an hour where you are sleeping. I’ve been walking / for 7 hrs on yr name day." The act of walking for seven hours on Liz's special day implies a form of tribute or contemplation, highlighting the depth of the speaker's feelings.

The abrupt shift to "Dead, I am calling you now" introduces a stark, existential dimension. This line can be interpreted as a metaphorical death, possibly indicating profound loneliness or the weight of being far away from a loved one. The juxtaposition of life and death in the context of a phone call adds to the poem's emotional complexity.

The poem continues with a blend of the mundane and the poetic: "There are colonnades. Yellow wrappers in the square. / Just what you’d suspect: a market with flowers and matrons, / handbags." These lines ground the reader in the bustling life of Delft, with its markets and everyday scenes. The inclusion of "Beauty walks this world. It ages everything" serves as a reflective pause, acknowledging the passage of time and its impact on all things.

Gizzi's introspective voice comes through with the lines "I am far and I am an animal and I am just another I-am poem, / a we-see poem, a they-love poem." This self-awareness highlights the universality of the speaker's experiences and emotions, suggesting that the personal is also collective. The use of different perspectives (I, we, they) emphasizes interconnectedness and shared humanity.

The poem's vivid imagery continues: "The green. All the different windows. / There is so much stone here. And grass. So beautiful each / translucent electric blade." The description of stone and grass, with their juxtaposition of solidity and fragility, reflects the complex beauty of the environment. The "translucent electric blade" of grass captures the ephemeral yet vibrant nature of life.

Finally, the poem acknowledges the familiar sounds and sights that make up the fabric of daily life: "And the noise. Cheers folding into traffic. These things. / Things that have been already said many times: / leaf, zipper, sparrow, lintel, scarf, window shade." This list of ordinary objects and experiences emphasizes the continuity of life and the repeated patterns that define it. By mentioning these common elements, Gizzi underscores the idea that while individual experiences are unique, they are also part of a larger, shared reality.

In "It Was Raining in Delft," Peter Gizzi masterfully blends the personal and the universal, creating a rich tapestry of sensory details and introspective reflections. The poem invites readers to consider the beauty and complexity of everyday moments, the passage of time, and the connections that bind us to each other and to the places we inhabit. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, the poem captures the essence of life’s fleeting yet profound nature.

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