Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Kinds of Sleep" by Elizabeth S. Adcock is a profound exploration of the different states of consciousness and unconsciousness that parallel the various stages and experiences of life. The poem intricately weaves together metaphors of sleep with existential themes, touching on judgment, identity, struggle, acceptance, and the eventual return to innocence and oblivion.

The poem begins with a type of sleep that reflects a judgment day scenario, where the persona finds themselves as the rejected goat among sheep, isolated and forgotten. This sleep is symbolic of societal and parental expectations and the fear of not meeting them, of being deemed unworthy. The imagery of being alone in a "stone place" with one's "own sad smell" evokes feelings of abandonment and existential loneliness, a theme that resonates deeply with the human fear of rejection and the quest for acceptance.

The second kind of sleep introduces a darker, more oppressive dream—a struggle against an all-encompassing darkness that threatens to obliterate everything. This sleep can be interpreted as the struggle against life's challenges, the burdens of responsibility, and the fight to preserve one's identity and essence against overwhelming forces. The reference to Sisyphus and wrestling with an "angel of pitch" amplifies the sense of an endless, futile battle against the inevitable, embodying the existential struggle for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.

The "walking sleep" offers a contrast to the previous nightmares, presenting a dream of finding oneself in a familiar, comforting space that assembles itself around the dreamer. This represents the longing for a sense of belonging and home, a place of safety and identity amidst the darkness. However, the realization that this home is temporary, that it will end at the "porch rail" beyond which lies the unknown, introduces a sense of transient security and the looming future that awaits beyond the safety of the familiar.

The final sleep is one of pure innocence and beauty, a return to a childlike state of wonder and ignorance where the complexities and burdens of life have been forgotten. This sleep symbolizes a desire for a simpler existence, free from the knowledge and experiences that weigh heavily on the soul. The imagery of morning, greenery, and merging with light suggests a longing for renewal, for a state of being where one is in harmony with the world, untouched by its darkness.

The poem closes with a poignant scene of the dreamer stepping into the "dewy grass," approaching a pool where goldfish "break black water," symbolizing a return to the primordial, to the essence of life before the consciousness of self and the world's complexities. The final image of lying down on "white bedsheet feathers paper snow," not making an "angel shape," not breathing, writing, or even acknowledging one's existence, captures the ultimate surrender to oblivion, to a sleep devoid of dreams, fears, and desires.

"Kinds of Sleep" is a deeply reflective and beautifully crafted poem that delves into the layers of human consciousness, exploring the fears, desires, and resignations that define our existence. Through the metaphor of sleep, Adcock invites readers to reflect on their own lives, the battles they fight, the homes they long for, and the innocence they sometimes wish to return to, ultimately confronting the inevitability of life's end and the possibility of peace in oblivion.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yellow_Shoe_Poets/2D6aqhb651oC?q=BACA+%22MEN+LATE+AT+NIGHT+COOK+COFFEE+IN+RUSTY+CANS%22&gbpv=1&bsq=KINDS%20OF%20SLEEP#f=false

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