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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

SEEKING, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

James Schuyler's poem "Seeking" offers a richly textured exploration of old New England, blending historical reflection with a modern sensibility that emphasizes the region's cultural and environmental legacy. Through a series of vivid, fragmented images, Schuyler evokes the layered histories and personal memories embedded in the landscape, making the past resonate with the present in a way that is both nostalgic and critical.

The poem begins by addressing the theme of conviction and innocence in the context of New England's historical legacy. The mention of "old trials" and the conviction of "innocent as witches" immediately conjures the infamous Salem witch trials, a reference point for the region's complex relationship with justice, morality, and collective guilt. Schuyler's use of the word "percentile" suggests a statistical or detached approach to these moral judgments, as if to highlight the cold calculation behind social condemnation.

This detachment is countered by the more intimate and personal images that follow, such as the observation of a "lame bird" that turns out to be "a big healthy robin" before it "dropped dead at your feet" due to DDT poisoning. The bird's demise serves as a metaphor for the unintended consequences of human actions, particularly those that disrupt the natural world. The robin's nest, with its "robin's-egg-blue" eggs, symbolizes both the fragility of life and the persistence of nature despite human interference.

The poem then shifts to explore the cultural and social fabric of old New England, referencing everything from stovepipe hats and beaver pelts to the influence of Spanish and Dutch settlers. Schuyler playfully examines the romance and mythology surrounding the region, acknowledging how these elements have been romanticized or corrupted over time. The mention of "Juanita Walcott y Gomez" and "Blue Juanita" points to the blending of cultures and the way stories and names evolve as they move westward, transforming in the process.

Schuyler's portrayal of New England is marked by a sense of irony and ambivalence. He acknowledges the region's rich heritage while also critiquing the ways in which it has been mythologized and commercialized. This is evident in his reference to "The Lowell Factory Girl Song," a nod to the industrial history of New England and the exploitation of labor, particularly female labor, during the 19th century. The poem's tone here is both wistful and critical, capturing the tension between the idealized past and the harsher realities of history.

The poem's final section brings together these themes of history, nature, and cultural memory through a series of striking images. The "dusky tulips" in a cellar hole, the "lucky stones" found in old New England, and the "snail shell" all serve as symbols of the region's enduring, if fragile, connection to the natural world. Schuyler also touches on the economic and environmental challenges facing modern New England, as seen in the reference to the Crotch Island Quarry and the ongoing exploitation of the landscape for industrial purposes.

In the closing lines, Schuyler contrasts the natural beauty of the region with the more mundane and commercial aspects of modern life. The "wonderful fish and terrible food at Glad's Lunch" encapsulates this duality, suggesting that the region's charm and appeal are inextricably linked to its flaws and contradictions. Schuyler's New England is a place where the past is always present, where history, memory, and the natural world are intertwined in complex and often unsettling ways.

"Seeking" is a meditation on the ways in which history and culture shape our understanding of place. Schuyler's poem is both an homage to and a critique of old New England, capturing the region's beauty, its contradictions, and the ways in which its past continues to resonate in the present. Through his vivid imagery and layered references, Schuyler invites readers to reflect on the ways in which we construct and reconstruct the stories of the places we inhabit, and how these stories, in turn, shape our sense of identity and belonging.


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