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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Charles Simic’s Concerning My Neighbors, the Hittites is a rich tapestry of surreal imagery, humor, and cryptic observations that draws on both ancient and modern themes to create a poetic landscape of contradictions. In this poem, the Hittites—nominally an ancient people—are transformed into a metaphorical construct, representing a humanity that is eccentric, absurd, and mysterious. Through their peculiar ways and habits, Simic offers a meditation on human folly, resilience, and the strange persistence of civilizations and individuals in the face of time and the unknown. The opening declaration, "Great are the Hittites," introduces a note of irony that pervades the poem. The greatness of the Hittites is defined not by grand achievements but by bizarre and almost comedic attributes. Their world is one where mice reside in ears, storms are contained in weeds, and gods are reduced to the size of mustard seeds. This imaginative inversion of natural order creates a sense of wonder and absurdity, setting the stage for a broader commentary on the quirks of human existence. The Hittites’ god, small enough to be quickly eaten, suggests a divine presence that is both accessible and diminutive, mirroring humanity’s tendency to reshape the divine into manageable forms. Simic’s imagery is rooted in contradictions and paradoxes, illustrating the Hittites’ reality as one where opposites coexist. "Their fathers are in cradles, their newborn make war" is an example of how temporal and logical orders are upended. This reversal of roles underscores the cyclical nature of human conflict and the absurdity of our inherited patterns of behavior. Similarly, their actions—pouring water into leaky buckets or striking tears to make fire—speak to a defiance of practicality, a theme that resonates as a critique of futile human endeavors. The poem’s middle sections delve deeper into the enigmatic qualities of the Hittites. They are described as "mound builders" and "Asiatic horses that will drink on the Rhine," blending historical references with mythic exaggerations. This interplay between history and imagination evokes the idea of cultural legacy, the way civilizations are remembered not for what they were but for how they are mythologized. Simic shifts from describing their peculiarities to contemplating their essence, suggesting that the Hittites exist as a whisper, a dream, or a sigh—ephemeral and elusive presences that defy concrete understanding. The Hittites’ superstitions and peculiar habits—throwing salt over shoulders, carrying snake bones, and sticking pins in snapshots—anchor them in a world governed by irrationality and ritual. These acts, seemingly nonsensical, reflect the human desire to impose meaning and control over an unpredictable universe. The poem subtly critiques this need for superstition while acknowledging its universality; after all, the Hittites are stand-ins for humanity itself. As the poem progresses, the Hittites’ decline is chronicled with a mix of humor and pathos. They leave behind "two rats from a ship that is still sinking" and "a collection of various split hairs," symbols of their futile struggles and peculiar obsessions. These remnants of their existence highlight the transience of human achievements and the absurdity of what is ultimately left behind. The closing lines expand the poem’s scope, drawing the reader into a cosmic perspective. Simic juxtaposes the mundane and the metaphysical, mixing proverbs and paradoxes: "Lean days don’t come singly, / It takes all kinds to make the sun rise." The surreal imagery of a "forest in wolf’s clothing" and the worn threadbare moon suggests that nature itself mirrors the contradictions and weariness of human existence. Structurally, the poem’s fragmented stanzas and playful tone mimic the meandering, unpredictable nature of its subject. The use of repetition, as in the recurring declaration of the Hittites’ greatness, reinforces the satirical undercurrent while anchoring the poem’s disparate elements. Simic’s language, rich with metaphor and surrealism, invites readers to oscillate between laughter and introspection, engaging with the text on multiple levels. In Concerning My Neighbors, the Hittites, Simic offers a kaleidoscopic view of humanity, blending humor, absurdity, and profound insight. The Hittites become a metaphor for the persistence and folly of human civilization, embodying our capacity for creativity, superstition, and resilience in the face of inevitable decline. Through their eccentricities, Simic compels us to reflect on our shared vulnerabilities and the peculiar beauty of our existence, leaving us to marvel at the intricate dance of meaning and absurdity that defines human life.
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