Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Psalm," by George Oppen, invites the reader into a contemplative space where the elemental qualities of nature serve as a lens to examine broader themes of truth, faith, and existential wonder. Oppen's precise language and attention to detail provide a rich tableau, capturing a moment where wild deer are "bedding down" in a "small beauty of the forest."

At the outset, the poem invokes "Veritas sequitur ...," a Latin phrase that alludes to the idea that "truth follows." In this context, truth is not conceptual but experiential, revealed through the simple act of being and observing. The deer are presented almost like a natural revelation-"That they are there!" This exclamation underscores the sublime essence of existence, independent of human intervention or interpretation.

The deer's physical features and actions- "their eyes / Effortless, the soft lips / Nuzzle and the alien small teeth / Tear at the grass"-are described in tactile, intimate detail. These lines offer a sense of immediacy, creating a rich sensory experience for the reader. The "alien small teeth" suggest something primeval, another form of existence that exists parallel to human life. Oppen's focus on the "roots" that "dangle from their mouths," scattering the earth, lends a sense of rawness and unfiltered interaction with nature.

The phrase "They who are there" reinforces the facticity of the deer, the undeniable truth of their presence. They are constant, yet ephemeral, and their paths are "Nibbled thru the fields." This quiet, persistent action, almost humble in its modesty, serves as a metaphor for the gentle but indelible impact of nature, or perhaps truth itself, on the world. The deer exist in a pastoral setting where the "leaves that shade them / Hang in the distances / Of sun," creating an atmosphere of ethereal beauty and solitude.

The poem subtly shifts its focus towards language itself-"The small nouns / Crying faith." Here, Oppen may be exploring the limits of language to encapsulate experience. The "small nouns" cry out for an elemental faith, not one bound by doctrine or dogma, but one borne out of genuine interaction with the world.

The ending lines capture the paradox of the deer's existence-they both "startle" and "stare out," embodying the tension between vulnerability and curiosity, transience and permanence. It's as if they, and by extension the poem itself, are questioning the very nature of being and observation.

In conclusion, George Oppen's "Psalm" transcends its pastoral imagery to probe into existential issues of truth and faith. Through its focus on the wild deer in their natural habitat, the poem captures a moment where nature itself becomes a psalm, a sacred song that speaks to the ineffable qualities of life and the ever-elusive yet eternally compelling concept of truth.

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