Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Human Lot" by Dean Young is a poetic exploration of memory, identity, and the existential musings that define the human experience. The poem is a reflection on the passage of time, the inevitability of change, and the continuous quest for understanding amidst the complexities of life. Through a series of vivid images and introspective questions, Young captures the essence of what it means to be human, with all its contradictions, uncertainties, and fleeting moments of clarity.

The opening line, "I’m amazed we haven’t crawled off by now," sets a tone of resilience and bewilderment at the human capacity to endure despite the myriad challenges and mysteries that life presents. This sentiment is a thread that runs through the poem, connecting the various vignettes and reflections that make up the narrative.

Young's use of imagery, such as crossing things out to forget origins or the sea trying to expel its contents, serves as a metaphor for the desire to escape or redefine one's past and the inherent struggle to make sense of one's place in the world. The mention of Sinatra and the "mother the same distal approximation" suggests the ways in which personal and cultural memories intertwine, shaping our perceptions and experiences.

The poem navigates through the terrain of sleep, dreams, and the subconscious, highlighting the differences in perception and experience that can exist even between those who are close. The external voices and the wind's insistence on correction introduce the idea that forces both within and outside of ourselves compel us to confront and perhaps amend our understanding of the world.

Young's description of a graveyard at the end of the sunset and automatons creating music from metal tubing juxtaposes the finality of death with the mechanical, repetitive aspects of daily life. This imagery reflects on the human condition as a blend of beauty, tragedy, and the mundane, suggesting that our attempts to find meaning are often met with the "usual calm disaster of getting out of bed."

The quest for understanding—"To find out why life has this glass sparkle / at the end of a dark hall"—is at the heart of the poem. Young's questions probe the mysteries of existence, from the origins of life's beauty to the reasons behind our most human vulnerabilities. The paper skeleton, a poignant symbol of mortality and perhaps shame, evokes the fragility of life and the many questions left unanswered by our passing.

The poem transitions into a more personal reflection on betrayal, loss, and the search for redemption. The speaker's desire to believe in the inadvertence of friends' betrayals and to question the unruined state of his heart speaks to the universal struggle to reconcile with the past and to find peace amidst life's uncertainties.

The final lines of the poem blend memories of the speaker's father with a childhood memory of the ocean, juxtaposing the finality of death with the innocence and wonder of first experiences. This contrast serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, the persistence of memory, and the indelible impact of our earliest encounters with the world.

"Human Lot" is a deeply contemplative poem that weaves together the personal and the universal, the mundane and the profound. Dean Young invites readers on a journey through the landscapes of memory, questioning, and existential wonder, offering no easy answers but instead celebrating the complexity, beauty, and enduring mystery of the human experience.

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