Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth's poem "Parnassus" juxtaposes the grandeur and perfection of the gods' abode with the gritty, everyday life of urban existence. The poem begins by describing the traditional image of the gods' home on a mountain, with marble hallways and meticulously clean surroundings. This imagery evokes a sense of timelessness, perfection, and unattainable beauty. The marble, considered perfect even when veined, symbolizes an ideal that remains untarnished despite imperfections, much like the way we envision divine beings and their realms.

The detailed description of the gods' mountain home creates a stark contrast with the scenes that follow. Goldbarth uses rich and evocative language to paint a picture of the gods' environment: dry-cleaned and starched clouds, gold detailing, silent footsteps, and lacy radiance. This almost otherworldly setting is meant to be impressive and awe-inspiring, reflecting the reverence humans have for the divine and the idealized visions we hold of their domains.

However, the poem takes a turn when Goldbarth shifts the scene to the urban landscape. Here, the gods are disguised, mingling with the ordinary people downtown. This transition from the divine to the mundane serves to humanize the gods, bringing them closer to our level and making them more relatable. The mention of buying from a cart man yelling his paper carnations introduces a sense of chaos and imperfection, contrasting sharply with the earlier serene and immaculate imagery.

The inclusion of hookers pinching their skin against the chill and a runny-nosed girl-child gooing further grounds the poem in the reality of everyday struggles and hardships. These images of urban life are raw and unfiltered, highlighting the stark differences between the idealized world of the gods and the real world that humans inhabit. The mention of sewer steam enveloping the girl more softly than bassinet satin adds a touch of irony, suggesting that even in the harshest environments, there can be moments of unexpected tenderness and beauty.

Goldbarth's poem ultimately reflects on the duality of existence—the coexistence of the divine and the mundane, the perfect and the flawed. By placing the gods in everyday urban settings, he blurs the lines between the sacred and the profane, suggesting that the divine can be found in the most unexpected places. This blending of worlds invites readers to reconsider their perceptions of divinity and perfection, encouraging them to find beauty and significance in the ordinary aspects of life.

The poem's structure, with its seamless transition from the lofty descriptions of the gods' mountain to the gritty urban scenes, mirrors the theme of convergence between the divine and the everyday. Goldbarth's use of vivid imagery and contrasting scenes effectively captures the complexity of human experience and the multifaceted nature of beauty and divinity. "Parnassus" serves as a reminder that the gods, and by extension the ideals we strive for, are not confined to distant, perfect realms but are present in the everyday moments and places we often overlook.

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