Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Credo Adoration" by David Wagoner is a deeply symbolic and richly imaginative poem, weaving together spiritual, natural, and metaphysical elements into a tapestry of reverence and awe. The poem unfolds as a meditation on the interconnectedness of existence, drawing from both religious and natural imagery to articulate a vision of divinity that transcends traditional boundaries.

The opening declaration, "The metaphor shall be god," immediately establishes the poem’s premise: the sacred resides not in fixed forms but in the symbolic, the relational, and the transformative. The metaphor becomes a divine act, an expression of creation and connection, while "the host / Of sound beyond the hand and mind" suggests an ineffable presence that eludes human grasp. The invocation of "light?s fountains" and "grace of the blind" reflects an exaltation of sensory and spiritual perception, particularly the kind that transcends sight and materiality.

Wagoner employs a liturgical tone, akin to a hymn, with repetitions and structures reminiscent of religious creeds. Yet, his focus shifts from doctrinal absolutes to the mutable and ephemeral aspects of the natural world. Lines such as "Tree, grass, the bloom in dust / Rise up in flame" suggest a sacramental view of nature, where ordinary elements are imbued with divine significance. The imagery of webs, water, and blue distance evokes an expansive, interconnected universe that constantly transforms and renews itself.

The second stanza introduces darker, earthier elements, such as crows calling for pain, worms entering pebbles, and a hare filled with sunlight?s barbs. This juxtaposition of beauty and brutality underscores the dual nature of existence: creation and destruction, light and shadow, grace and suffering. The crane, "standing among reeds and tak[ing] the rain," becomes a symbol of stoic acceptance, embodying the poem’s recurring theme of endurance and transformation.

Wagoner delves into existential and cosmic truths, pondering the origins of life and the cyclical nature of creation. "Sandstone, pounded, will make sand; / Stairs on the tower all drop off" acknowledges the inevitability of decay, while "Cocoons unravel like kite-string: love / In a curve lies born" celebrates the generative power of transformation. The imagery of unraveling cocoons suggests both fragility and the potential for renewal, linking personal growth to universal processes.

The phrase "From Spiritus Mundi these descend" evokes William Butler Yeats?s concept of a shared spiritual repository. Wagoner lists elemental forces—rock, fire, beast, snake, rose, and bird—aligning them with human and cosmic experiences. These archetypes represent the primal and the sacred, as well as the convergence of the corporeal and the divine. The poem situates humanity within this web, "The stretched man becoming Cross," a clear allusion to Christ as a symbol of universal suffering and redemption.

The poem crescendos with a call to praise and a recognition of the sacredness inherent in all things. Lines such as "Build fields of aureoles in flesh" and "Desire?s bright agony like gems / In the skull" capture the luminous and painful aspects of existence. Wagoner celebrates both the physical and metaphysical, the "soil and blaze," and implores the reader to "accept" and "give back praise" for the awe-inspiring interplay of forces that define life.

Structurally, the poem mirrors its themes of cyclical renewal. It begins with an invocation of metaphor and ends with a call to praise, creating a sense of completeness and eternal return. The use of enjambment throughout propels the reader forward, echoing the relentless motion of time and nature.

"Credo Adoration" stands as a testament to Wagoner’s ability to fuse spiritual and naturalistic perspectives. The poem invites readers to find divinity not in fixed doctrines but in the ceaseless transformations of the world around them. Through its intricate imagery and profound reflections, the poem elevates the mundane to the sacred, urging us to embrace and revere the totality of existence.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...