Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Some San Francisco Poems: 7," George Oppen reflects on the nature of art, creation, and the relationship between the artist and their work. The poem explores the tension between the physical and the abstract, the individual and the collective, and the fleeting nature of artistic achievement.

The poem begins with an invocation to the "withering seas / Of the doorstep and local winds unveil / The face of art." This imagery blends the natural with the domestic, suggesting that art is something that emerges from both the everyday and the elemental forces around us. The "withering seas" imply a sense of decay or decline, while "local winds" suggest a more immediate, personal influence. Together, they "unveil / The face of art," indicating that art is something revealed through these forces, rather than created in isolation.

The next line, "Carpenter, plunge and drip in the sea       Art’s face / We know that face," brings in the figure of the carpenter, traditionally a symbol of manual labor and craftsmanship. Here, the carpenter is urged to engage with the sea, perhaps as a metaphor for diving into the depths of creativity or the subconscious. The "face of art" is something familiar, "We know that face," yet it is also something that is continually re-encountered and reinterpreted.

Oppen then describes this face of art as "More blinding than the sea    a haunted house    a limited / Consensus unwinding." The comparison of art to something "blinding" suggests its power to overwhelm or dazzle, making it difficult to perceive clearly. The "haunted house" metaphor adds a layer of mystery and perhaps fear, indicating that art is not just beautiful but also unsettling, filled with the ghosts of past ideas and emotions. The "limited / Consensus unwinding" hints at the collective agreement on what art is or should be, which is gradually unraveling, leading to a more personal or fragmented understanding.

The poem continues with a series of powerful images: "In the record of great blows   shocks / Ravishment   devastation   the wood splintered." These lines evoke the physical and emotional impact of art, which is often born out of intense experiences—blows, shocks, ravishment, and devastation. The image of "the wood splintered" could refer to the breaking down of old forms or traditions, making way for something new, yet the violence of this process is palpable.

"The keyboard gone in the rank grass swept her hand / Over the strings and the thing rang out" shifts the focus to music, another form of art. The "keyboard gone" suggests the decay or loss of something once functional, now overtaken by nature ("rank grass"). Yet, despite this decay, "her hand" finds the strings, and "the thing rang out." This moment of sound, of music, is both unexpected and powerful, a reminder that art can still resonate, even when it seems lost or forgotten.

Oppen then distances himself from the art created: "Not my poem   Mr Steinway’s / Poem   Not mine." Here, Oppen acknowledges that the creation is not solely his, but rather something shared or belonging to others—perhaps a nod to the collective efforts that go into the making of art, whether it be a poem or a piece of music. The reference to "Mr Steinway" invokes the famous piano maker, symbolizing the idea that the tools and instruments of creation also play a role in the final product, not just the artist.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the nature of the marvelous: "A ‘marvelous’ object / Is not the marvel of things." This line suggests that while an object might be considered marvelous, it does not capture the true essence of what is marvelous in the world—the intangible, the ineffable qualities that art attempts to express. The final lines, "twisting the new / Mouth   forcing the new / Tongue   But it rang," indicate the struggle of finding new ways to express these marvels, to give voice to new ideas and emotions. Despite this struggle, "it rang" suggests a moment of success, a sound that resonates, signaling that the effort to create and communicate has borne fruit, however fleeting.

In "Some San Francisco Poems: 7," George Oppen examines the process of artistic creation and the challenges inherent in it. The poem reflects on the forces that shape art, the roles of the artist and their tools, and the difficulty of capturing the true essence of the marvelous. Through his precise and evocative language, Oppen invites readers to consider the complexities of art and the often painful, yet ultimately rewarding, journey of creation. The poem is a meditation on the power of art to resonate, even in the face of decay, uncertainty, and the limitations of language and form.

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