Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth's "The Amounts" delves into the overwhelming abundance that defines modern existence, juxtaposing it against the human desire for singularity and sufficiency. The poem explores the sheer volume of objects, experiences, and information that saturate our lives, questioning the implications of this excess on our understanding of value, uniqueness, and contentment.

The poem begins with a striking statistic: about 200 pistols are believed by their owners to be the one that killed Abraham Lincoln. This multiplicity sets the tone for the poem, highlighting how the proliferation of objects creates confusion and diminishes their individual significance. Goldbarth then moves to Imelda Marcos' infamous collection of 4,000 shoes, an image that epitomizes the idea of surplus. This excessive accumulation is mirrored in nature, with its myriad species of hummingbirds and the countless stars in the night sky, suggesting that abundance is both a human and a natural phenomenon.

Goldbarth continues to enumerate various examples of excess, from the complexity of neutrinos to the millipede's 784 legs and the sun's immense loss of bulk per second. These examples underscore the intricate and detailed texture of the world, which is so rich in particulars that it becomes almost overwhelming. The poem then touches on the idea of replication and duplication, as seen in the multiple relics of St. John the Baptist and the churches claiming Jesus' circumcision. These duplications, whether in religious artifacts or works of art, suggest a paradoxical need to affirm the uniqueness of something by reproducing it.

The poem's narrative shifts to a more personal scene, where a father reads a bedtime story to his three-year-old. The tale of Thumbling Henry, who overcomes "Ten Terrible Trials," serves as a metaphor for the daily struggles and repetitive patterns that define human life. This story within the poem emphasizes that singularity and triumph are achieved through persistence and endurance. The father's moment of reflection on marriage as a series of daily challenges mirrors the repetitive trials faced by the story's protagonist.

Goldbarth then introduces a powerful image of a pillar worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims' kisses. This image encapsulates the poem's central theme: the idea that nothing is truly one thing. The cumulative effect of countless individual actions creates something unique and transcendent, illustrating how singularity is a product of collective effort and repetition.

The poem culminates with the father's contemplation of his own existence and relationships. He sees himself as part of the vast, interconnected web of life, both in terms of his evolutionary history and his intimate human connections. This realization leads to a sense of being "partite," with every atom and grain inside him interconnected with the world around him. The poem's final scenes shift to the father's observations of models in a catalog of intimate products and his wife in bed, highlighting the contrast between idealized representations and real, lived experiences.

Goldbarth concludes with a simple yet profound prayer: "Let this one (blank) be sufficient." This plea for sufficiency in a world of abundance underscores the human longing for contentment and meaning amid the overwhelming amounts of everything. The poem suggests that despite the vast quantities and complexities that surround us, there is a deep-seated need to find value and fulfillment in the singular, the personal, and the present moment.

In "The Amounts," Goldbarth masterfully weaves together disparate elements of modern life, from historical relics to personal relationships, to explore the tensions between abundance and sufficiency. Through vivid imagery and reflective narrative, the poem captures the human quest for meaning in a world that often feels inundated with too much of everything.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...