Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth's poem "Again" delves into the complexities of memory, repetition, and the poignant moments of human experience, particularly surrounding the themes of illness, love, and perseverance. The poem weaves together personal narrative and broader historical and cultural references to explore how individuals cope with and make sense of life's most challenging moments.

The poem opens with the speaker recalling a time of darkness and desperation at a bedside, presumably of a loved one. The speaker's repeated incantation of a simple, desperate hope transcends words and becomes a form of pre-literate faith, akin to a chain of small lights cutting through darkness. This image of repetition and faith is likened to the "Sheet of 1,000 Buddhas," where each small figure, stamped repeatedly, represents a bit of light warding off darkness and illness.

Goldbarth then digresses to the story of Chunosuke Matsuyama, a sailor who, after being shipwrecked, scratched his story on wood and set it adrift in a bottle, which was found over 150 years later in his home village. This story serves as a metaphor for the persistence of hope and communication across vast distances and time, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The bottle's journey mirrors the speaker's own attempt to reach out and make a connection through the poem.

Repetition is a central theme, as highlighted by the speaker's acknowledgment that "Repetition is what this poem is about." This repetition is evident in various cultural and personal rituals, such as the three wishes in fairy tales, the repetitive prayers, and the daily rituals performed by caregivers. These acts of repetition, though sometimes seemingly futile, represent the human desire to find order, meaning, and hope in the face of uncertainty and suffering.

The poem also touches on the theme of pain, both physical and emotional. The speaker reflects on the insularity of pain, noting how it isolates individuals, yet also acknowledging that pain is a shared human experience. This duality is captured in the description of the nurse's repetitive and ceremonial care for the speaker's father, and the collective suffering of others, such as Jimbo's heartbreak and Arlene Bedoya's estrangement from her husband.

Goldbarth's use of vivid imagery and detailed anecdotes enriches the poem's exploration of these themes. The description of the night nurse smoothing the bed and the father's cheek "into a level of ceremony purely" illustrates the profound, almost sacred nature of caregiving. Similarly, the metaphor of the sun touching every bedside object, turning even a simple photograph into a luminous artifact, underscores the transformative power of love and memory.

The poem's structure, with its digressions and return to central themes, mirrors the way memory and experience are processed in the human mind. The speaker's reflections on past events, personal relationships, and broader cultural stories create a tapestry of interconnected moments that highlight the resilience and continuity of human life.

In conclusion, "Again" by Albert Goldbarth is a deeply moving exploration of the ways in which repetition, memory, and ritual help individuals navigate the complexities of life. Through rich imagery and poignant personal narrative, the poem underscores the enduring power of hope, love, and faith in the face of suffering and uncertainty. The speaker's journey through the poem reflects a universal human experience, inviting readers to find solace and meaning in the shared rituals and stories that connect us all.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...