Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Last Gods," Galway Kinnell explores themes of primal desire, the intimate connection between humans and nature, and the transcendental moments that elevate physical acts into divine experiences. Through vivid imagery and sensual language, Kinnell captures a scene that is both erotic and deeply spiritual, situating human intimacy within the broader context of the natural world.

The poem opens with a striking image of a woman and a man, both naked, in a natural setting: "She sits naked on a rock / a few yards out in the water. / He stands on the shore, / also naked, picking blueberries." The simplicity and rawness of their nakedness emphasize a return to a state of nature, unencumbered by societal norms and expectations. This primal scene sets the stage for the unfolding of a moment of profound connection.

The woman's call to the man and her subsequent revealing of her beauty create a powerful moment of invitation and acceptance: "She calls. He turns. she opens / her legs showing him her great beauty, / and smiles, a bow of lips / seeming to tie together / the ends of the earth." Her smile, described as tying together "the ends of the earth," suggests a unity and completeness in their connection, as if their bond has the power to bridge vast distances and bring harmony to the world.

As the man wades out to join her, the poem emphasizes the physical and geographical intimacy: "sunk / to the anklebones in leaf-mush / and bottom-slime—the intimacy / of the geographical." This grounding in the natural elements highlights the organic nature of their union, rooted in the earth and its substances. The act of feeding her blueberries becomes a ritual of shared nourishment and deepening intimacy: "He puts / a berry in its shirt / of mist into her mouth / She swallows it. He puts in another. / She swallows it."

The imagery of the swallows above the lake, "whim, juke jink," mirrors the couple's own movements and interactions, suggesting a harmony between their actions and the natural world around them. The man's physical arousal, described not in mythological terms but in human ones—"He is swollen / not with ichor but with blood"—grounds their encounter in the tangible, bodily reality, yet it is elevated by their profound connection.

The poem reaches its climax with a vivid description of their lovemaking: "On top of the rock they join. / somewhere a frog moans, a crow screams. / The hair of their bodies / startles up." The use of animal sounds and the reaction of their bodies to the moment underscore the raw, elemental nature of their union. Their cries, described as "the tongue of the last gods," evoke a sense of ancient, almost forgotten divinity, suggesting that in their intimate act, they tap into a primal, sacred language.

Kinnell's reference to "the last gods, / who refused to go, / chose death, and shuddered / in joy and shattered in pieces, / bequeathing their cries / into the human breast" suggests that the remnants of divine ecstasy and despair are inherited by humans. This legacy of the gods' cries signifies the enduring power and complexity of human emotion and experience, especially in moments of profound connection.

The poem concludes with a serene, almost visionary image: "Now in the lake / two faces, floating, see up / a great maternal pine whose branches / open out in all directions / explaining everything." The maternal pine symbolizes nurturing and wisdom, its branches extending outward as if to embrace and comprehend the entire world. This final image suggests that through their intimate connection, the couple gains a deeper understanding of life and existence, transcending their individual selves and merging with the larger, interconnected fabric of nature.

"Last Gods" is a celebration of the sacredness found in human intimacy and the natural world. Kinnell's masterful use of imagery and sensual language elevates a simple act of love into a moment of divine significance, reminding us of the enduring, profound connections that define our humanity and link us to the cosmos.

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