Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth's poem "The Locust Song" opens with a poignant observation attributed to William Butler Yeats: "None of us can say who will succeed, or even who has or has not talent. The only thing certain about us is that we are too many." This remark, quoted by Paul Carroll, sets the tone for a meditation on the overwhelming abundance of poets and the existential challenge of distinguishing oneself amidst a teeming multitude.

Goldbarth paints a vivid scene of the Rhymers Club at The Cheshire Cheese, where Yeats's insight echoes among the "schnockered literary faces." The imagery of a "bobbing sea" of poets captures the sense of being adrift in a vast, crowded expanse. The repetition of "too many" reinforces the theme of excess, drawing parallels to natural phenomena like "flakes of snow," "fish in the deep," and "waterbugs of Florida," all countless in number.

The poem deftly weaves together the physical and the metaphorical, using the locust as a symbol of the poetic swarm. Just as locusts descend in vast, indistinguishable masses, so too do poets seem to multiply endlessly. This analogy underscores the difficulty of standing out in such a crowded field, where each voice risks being lost among the many.

Goldbarth's critique extends to the familiar tropes and images that populate poetry. The birds on the wire, the black hole of the astronomers, the rose, the willow, the rainbow, and the nightingale have all become overused symbols, "string theory is easily the sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea of us." These clichés, repeated ad nauseam, contribute to the sense of redundancy and sameness that plagues the poetic landscape.

The poem's strength lies in its self-awareness and its ability to balance humor with gravity. Goldbarth's playful tone, seen in phrases like "muss-haired Willie Yeats" and "a sloshy evening spent in fellowship," softens the critique while driving home the point. The image of poets with "a scribbled paper" or "a published pamphlet" highlights their earnestness and ambition, even as it underscores the saturation of the field.

Goldbarth also touches on the personal struggle inherent in this collective experience. Inside every "too many of us is a me," a unique individual striving for recognition. This introspective turn adds depth to the poem, reminding readers that behind each poet is a person with dreams and aspirations. The final image of a hundred "me" lifting their pints in a toast to Yeats's observation encapsulates the bittersweet reality of communal ambition and individual longing.

"The Locust Song" thus becomes a reflection on the nature of artistic creation and the challenges of distinguishing oneself in a world saturated with voices. Goldbarth's clever use of metaphor, his critique of poetic clichés, and his empathy for the individual within the collective make this poem a compelling meditation on the poetic condition. The interplay between the abundance of poets and the desire for unique expression captures the paradox of art: the need to stand out in a crowd while being part of a larger, interconnected whole.

In this way, Goldbarth's poem resonates with Yeats's original observation, echoing the timeless struggle of artists to find their place in a world where there are always "too many" striving for the same goal. The poem ultimately acknowledges both the frustration and the beauty of this struggle, celebrating the persistence and passion that drive poets to continue their craft despite the odds.

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