Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Saving Tallow" by Barbara Guest is a poem that weaves together vivid imagery and evocative language to create a dreamlike exploration of memory, perception, and the interplay between light and shadow. The poem's rich, sensory details and shifting perspectives invite readers into a surreal landscape where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.

The poem begins with the line, "Visible tallow of the hurricane night," immediately setting a scene of tumultuous weather and the fragile light of a candle. The word "tallow" refers to the rendered fat used to make candles, symbolizing both the fragility and persistence of light in the midst of chaos. This image is enhanced by the description of the "thin fair candle" and the "yacht cradling the room's deep water," suggesting a delicate balance between stability and turmoil.

Guest's use of the candle as a central metaphor continues with the line, "where the wave raises its sail," blending the natural elements of water and wind with the human-made object of a yacht. This fusion of natural and artificial highlights the interconnectedness of different realms and the ways in which human experiences are shaped by their environments. The "procession of shoulders" and "falling olives on yellow knees" further emphasize this connection, drawing attention to the physical and sensory aspects of the scene.

The poem shifts to a broader perspective with the lines, "and cities drowned in their comet clothing dragged from the sea." Here, Guest evokes a sense of loss and destruction, with the imagery of drowned cities suggesting the aftermath of a cataclysmic event. The "comet clothing" implies both the fleeting nature of existence and the remnants of something once vibrant and beautiful now submerged and forgotten.

Guest continues to play with the theme of light and darkness, describing a "lone palm tree covered with sea lice" and addressing the candle directly with "Candle! lonely diver most vertical." The candle becomes a symbol of resilience and isolation, standing upright amid the chaos and bringing a sense of order and focus to the otherwise disordered scene. The room, in turn, "dedicates its curves to you," suggesting a reverence for the candle's steadfastness and the way it shapes the space around it.

The poem introduces a series of whimsical characters and elements with the lines, "There was once a shadow called Luis; there was once an eyebrow whose name was Domingo." These playful personifications add a layer of surrealism and fantasy, blurring the line between animate and inanimate objects. The mention of "children, grown-ups, organs" and "moving legs and there was speech" brings the scene to life, imbuing it with a sense of history and human presence.

Guest's description of the candlelight and its effects continues to captivate, with lines such as, "in the candlelight there were couplings of such sonority evening callers merely left their cards." The candlelight creates an intimate and mysterious atmosphere, where ordinary actions take on a heightened significance. The image of "small whimpers made by the African cat" and "the candlelight fell on grass" adds to the sense of an enchanted, almost otherworldly space.

The poem also explores geometric and abstract concepts, with lines like "many mathematical forms" and "the obliquity of a painting." These references to shapes and angles suggest a deeper contemplation of the structures and patterns that underpin both art and reality. The "transverses on the arrow light" and "where the smile flies off" further emphasize the dynamic and fluid nature of perception.

In the closing lines, Guest returns to the themes of light and the natural world, describing "the nose of a window louvered as coral rock" and a person who "walked was sleepy must be awakened for adorations and questions." This fusion of human and natural elements underscores the poem's exploration of interconnectedness and the ways in which different realms influence and reflect one another.

The poem concludes with a direct address to the candle: "Take me on your dolphin skin! I shall be absent soon!" This plea captures the transient and ephemeral nature of existence, as well as the desire to grasp and hold onto moments of beauty and clarity. The final lines, "Saving the tallow with capable hands seizing with the loyal closed eyes of foliage Puff," encapsulate the poem's themes of preservation and the delicate balance between light and darkness, presence and absence.

In "Saving Tallow," Barbara Guest masterfully combines rich imagery, playful language, and philosophical reflection to create a layered and immersive experience. The poem invites readers to contemplate the interplay of light and shadow, the fleeting nature of existence, and the profound connections between the human and natural worlds. Through its vivid and evocative language, "Saving Tallow" offers a meditation on memory, perception, and the enduring power of light amid the chaos.

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