Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Lowell's poem "As a Plane Tree by the Water" is a dark and evocative exploration of spiritual desolation and urban decay, set against the backdrop of Boston. The poem interweaves biblical and historical references, reflecting on themes of faith, loss, and the pervasive corruption of modern life. Through rich imagery and a rhythmic, almost incantatory repetition, Lowell creates a powerful lament for a world seemingly forsaken by divine grace.

The poem opens with the striking line, "Darkness has called to darkness, and disgrace," immediately setting a tone of moral and spiritual bleakness. The reference to "darkness" calling to its kind suggests a pervasive and inescapable corruption. This darkness "elbows about our windows in this planned / Babel of Boston," likening the city to the biblical Tower of Babel, a symbol of human hubris and divine punishment. The idea of Boston as a "planned Babel" underscores the artificiality and moral confusion of urban life, where "our money talks / And multiplies the darkness of a land."

Lowell introduces the image of the Virgin Mary, "where the Virgin walks / And roses spiral her enamelled face." This depiction contrasts sharply with the harsh urban landscape, highlighting the disconnect between spiritual purity and the corruption of the city. The "roses" that "fall to splinters on unwatered streets" symbolize the decay of beauty and holiness in a barren, neglected environment.

The poem repeatedly invokes "Our Lady of Babylon," a reference that blends the purity of the Virgin with the sinful connotations of Babylon. This duality reflects the tension between the sacred and the profane. The speaker laments, "I was once the apple of your eye," suggesting a fall from grace and a sense of abandonment. The recurring line, "Flies, flies are on the plane tree, on the streets," evokes a sense of pestilence and decay, reinforcing the imagery of corruption.

Lowell further explores the theme of spiritual desolation through the image of the "flies of Babylon" that "buzz in my ear-drums while the devil’s long / Dirge of the people detonates the hour." The flies symbolize the persistent and inescapable presence of sin and corruption. The "devil's long dirge" suggests a mournful, unending lament for humanity's fallen state.

The poem’s middle section delves into the construction of "floating cities" and the "Babel Tower," where the devil's "golden tongue / Enchants the masons" to build a city that reaches towards the sun. This imagery evokes the biblical story of Babel, where humanity's pride leads to its downfall. The reference to "hell-fire streets / Of Boston" and the sunlight as a "sword / Striking at the withholder of the Lord" underscores the city’s damnation and the divine retribution it faces.

Lowell then shifts to the miraculous waters of the Atlantic and the vision of Bernadette at Massabielle. Bernadette’s vision "put out reason’s eyes," suggesting a faith that transcends rational understanding. However, this miraculous vision contrasts with the "flies" that "strike the miraculous waters," symbolizing the pervasive corruption that even defiles the sacred.

The poem culminates in a reference to the "walls of Jericho" and the streets "singing: 'Sing, / Sing for the resurrection of the King.'" This invocation of biblical triumph and resurrection juxtaposes the prevailing sense of decay and despair, hinting at the possibility of redemption amidst the darkness.

Through its vivid imagery and rhythmic repetition, "As a Plane Tree by the Water" captures a powerful sense of spiritual and moral disintegration in the modern world. Lowell’s blending of biblical references with contemporary urban imagery creates a poignant reflection on the loss of faith and the enduring hope for divine intervention and renewal. The poem's haunting refrain, "Flies, flies are on the plane tree, on the streets," encapsulates its central theme of pervasive corruption and the longing for a return to spiritual purity.

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