Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Of Being Numerous: 20," George Oppen reflects on the persistent and cyclical nature of war, the inevitability of death, and the profound sense of failure and guilt that permeates human existence. The poem weaves together themes of history, mortality, and the search for meaning, using powerful imagery to explore the complex emotional landscape of those living in a world shaped by conflict and loss.

The poem begins with a stark statement: "—They await / War, and the news / Is war." This line suggests that war is not only anticipated but also a constant presence in the lives of the people Oppen describes. The phrase "as always" reinforces the idea that war is a recurring, almost inevitable part of human history. It reflects the cyclical nature of violence and the grim expectation that conflict will continue to define the human experience.

Oppen then introduces a metaphorical description of war's effect on people: "That the juices may flow in them / Tho the juices lie." This could be interpreted as a reference to the way war animates or excites people, perhaps stirring primal instincts or emotions. However, the phrase "tho the juices lie" suggests a sense of falsehood or deception—implying that the vitality or purpose derived from war is ultimately illusory or hollow. War, in this sense, might energize people, but it does so based on a lie, offering a false sense of meaning or purpose.

The poem continues by acknowledging the grand, often tragic events that have shaped history: "Great things have happened / On the earth and given it history, armies / And the ragged hordes moving and the passions / Of that death." These lines evoke the vast movements of people, armies, and the intense emotions tied to war and death that have left an indelible mark on history. Yet, despite these "great things," the poem questions their ultimate significance in the face of death: "But who escapes / Death."

The focus then shifts to the "riders / Of the subway," a symbol of the everyday people living their lives in the shadow of these grand historical events. Oppen notes that these individuals "know / But now as I know / Failure and the guilt / Of failure." Here, he connects the shared experience of modern urban dwellers—those who commute daily on subways—with a deeper, more existential sense of failure and guilt. This could be interpreted as a recognition of the failure to find meaning, to stop the cycle of violence, or simply to live up to the ideals that society sets.

Oppen then makes a poignant reference to Thomas Hardy's poem "The Oxen," which imagines a scene where farm animals kneel at midnight on Christmas Eve, as they were once believed to do in honor of Christ's birth. Oppen writes, "As in Hardy’s poem of Christmas / We might half-hope to find the animals / In the sheds of a nation / Kneeling at midnight." This image represents a longing for a miraculous sign of forgiveness or redemption, a hope that even in the face of overwhelming failure and guilt, there might be some gesture of absolution or grace.

However, Oppen immediately tempers this hope with a return to harsh reality: "Farm animals, / Draft animals, beasts for slaughter / Because it would mean they have forgiven us, / Or which is the same thing, / That we do not altogether matter." The animals, once imagined as participants in a sacred act of forgiveness, are here reduced to their utilitarian roles as "beasts for slaughter." The possibility of their forgiveness, Oppen suggests, would imply either a merciful act or the ultimate insignificance of human actions—that "we do not altogether matter." This dual interpretation reflects a deep ambivalence about the human condition: the desire for meaning and redemption is overshadowed by the fear that our lives, in the grand scheme of things, may be insignificant.

In "Of Being Numerous: 20," George Oppen meditates on the persistent presence of war, the inevitability of death, and the pervasive sense of failure and guilt in modern life. Through vivid imagery and references to history and literature, Oppen explores the tension between the search for meaning and the possibility that human existence might ultimately be inconsequential. The poem invites readers to grapple with these existential questions, offering no easy answers but instead presenting a complex and deeply reflective view of the human condition in a world shaped by violence and loss.

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