Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "The Lost Kingdom" is a reflection on memory, imagination, and the passage of time. Inspired by Patricia Hampl’s quote that “No book is as fictional as the one that begins I remember...,” the poem delves into the idea that memories, while often vivid and deeply felt, can be as fictional or constructed as any story. Pastan explores the tension between the idealized past and the inevitable changes brought by time, suggesting that what we remember may not be as real or tangible as it seems.

The poem opens with a line that sets the tone for an exploration of memory and nostalgia: "I remember the castle." The imagery of a castle immediately evokes a sense of grandeur, security, and perhaps childhood fantasy. The castle, a symbol of power and protection, is paired with the “chilly moat,” a feature that both protects and isolates. The moat is described as a place where the speaker swam in the summer or skated in the winter, suggesting that the castle was not only a place of safety but also of freedom and joy in the natural world. The seasonal change from swimming to skating implies a continuity of experience, where the castle and its surroundings provide a constant backdrop for the speaker's formative years.

The poem then introduces a luxurious image: "And how on the shiny seat of the coach / an ermine lap robe casually waited." This detail of the ermine lap robe, a symbol of luxury and royal privilege, enhances the sense of an opulent, fairy-tale world. The lap robe "casually waited," implying that such luxury was a given, something that was always present and taken for granted in this imagined or remembered world. The word "casually" suggests a certain nonchalance or ease, reinforcing the idea that the speaker, in this memory, lived a life of comfort and privilege.

The poem continues with a focus on the courtiers: "And all his courtiers smiled / and thanked him." The courtiers’ smiles and thanks suggest a world of politeness, order, and deference, where everyone knows their place and plays their role. The speaker recognizes their fortunate position in this hierarchy: "I knew I was lucky to be his daughter." This acknowledgment of luck and privilege highlights the speaker’s awareness of their special status in this remembered world. It suggests a sense of belonging and identity that is closely tied to the father figure, who is presumably a king or nobleman.

However, the tone of the poem shifts with the introduction of time and loss: "That was before the succession, / before the years had trickled through my hands, like water." The word "succession" indicates a significant change or transition, likely referring to the passing of the father and the end of the speaker’s privileged life. The phrase "years had trickled through my hands, like water" conveys the inevitable passage of time and the sense of something slipping away, beyond control. The image of water slipping through fingers is a powerful metaphor for the loss of both time and the tangible reality of the past. It suggests that what was once solid and real has now become elusive and intangible, just as the remembered kingdom has become a lost one.

The poem’s title, "The Lost Kingdom," encapsulates the theme of the poem—what is lost is not just a physical place, but a time, a sense of identity, and a way of life. The kingdom, with its castle, moat, and courtiers, is a symbol of a world that no longer exists, except in memory. But, as the Hampl quote at the beginning suggests, memory itself is a form of fiction, shaped by the desires, regrets, and imaginings of the person who remembers. Thus, the "lost kingdom" is not just a place in the past, but also a creation of the mind, something that may never have existed in the way it is remembered.

In "The Lost Kingdom," Linda Pastan masterfully explores the interplay between memory and imagination, and how time transforms and often distorts what we recall. The poem suggests that while memories can feel vivid and real, they are also shaped by the passage of time and the changes it brings. The speaker’s nostalgia for the lost kingdom is tinged with the recognition that what they remember may be more fiction than fact, and that the world they once knew has slipped away, just as water slips through fingers. Through her evocative language and rich imagery, Pastan invites readers to reflect on their own memories and the ways in which the past is both remembered and imagined.

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