Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sundown" by Jorie Graham is a vivid, reflective poem that captures a moment of serene beauty and profound contemplation. Set on June 5, 2009, at St. Laurent Sur Mer, the poem vividly describes the scene on Omaha Beach, blending the natural world with a meditative reflection on life, memory, and the passage of time.

The poem opens with an evocative image of daylight "wincing" behind the speaker, setting a tone of delicate transition: "Sometimes the day / light winces / behind you and it is / a great treasure." This initial observation underscores the fleeting nature of the moment, framing it as a rare and precious experience. The use of "wincing" suggests a sensitivity to the subtle changes in light and atmosphere, inviting readers into the speaker's intimate awareness of the surroundings.

Graham introduces the striking image of a man on a horse galloping along Omaha Beach: "a man on / a horse in calm full / gallop on Omaha over my / left shoulder coming on / fast but / calm." The horse and rider, described as moving "calm not audible," create a sense of silent power and grace. The speaker's unexpected turn of the head to glimpse this sight suggests a deeper, almost instinctual connection to the environment: "as if what lies behind / one had whispered / what can I do for you today."

The horse and rider, illuminated by the late sun, are depicted with a sense of ethereal beauty and dynamism: "the late sun he/they / were driving into—gleaming— / wet chest and upraised knees and / light-struck hooves." This imagery conveys a moment of transcendence, where the natural elements and the living beings within them are harmoniously intertwined. The horse's "thrust-out even breathing" and the rider's "smiling without looking at me" evoke a sense of mutual recognition and shared experience, further enhanced by the speaker's own smile.

As the horse and rider pass by, their interaction with the beach and the ocean is rendered with exquisite detail: "my feet in the / breaking wave-edge, his hooves returning, as they begin to pass / by, / to the edge of the furling / break, each tossed-up flake of / ocean offered into the reddish / luminosity." The interplay between the horse's hooves and the water, the scattering seagulls, and the soundscape of screeching and mewing, all contribute to a rich, multisensory experience.

The poem then shifts focus to the minute details of the sand and the life it harbors: "its prints on / wet sand deep and immediately filled by thousands of / sandfleas thrilled to the / declivities in succession." This close observation of the sandfleas finding the hoofprints just as light does emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life forms and the intricate beauty of nature's cycles.

In a poignant reflection, the speaker describes the act of walking with closed eyes: "and when I shut my eyes now I am not like a blind person / walking towards the lowering sun, / the water loud at my right, / but like a seeing person / with her eyes shut." This metaphor suggests a deeper, intuitive understanding of the world, where the act of moving forward is guided not just by sight but by an internal sense of place and presence. The careful placement of "feet down / one at a time / on the earth" symbolizes a deliberate and mindful engagement with the world.

"Sundown" by Jorie Graham masterfully captures a moment of serene beauty on Omaha Beach, intertwining natural imagery with profound reflections on presence and perception. The poem's vivid descriptions and contemplative tone invite readers to immerse themselves in the scene and consider the delicate balance between seeing and being, memory and moment. Through her eloquent portrayal of this fleeting yet timeless experience, Graham explores the interconnectedness of all life and the enduring impact of a single, sunlit moment.

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