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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

OLD MAN POEM, by                

Richard Aitson’s "Old Man Poem" is a brief, yet deeply evocative meditation on memory, identity, and the inexorable passage of time. The poem’s sparse, unadorned language and fragmented structure mirror the speaker’s introspective journey, oscillating between childhood innocence and the somber reflections of old age. Aitson’s characteristic blending of natural imagery with personal and cultural motifs imbues the poem with a quiet resonance, exploring the ephemeral nature of life and the lingering desire to grasp what slips away with time.

The poem opens with a reflection on childhood: "As a child I knew how to look around / how to savor a color, a movement or a shadow." These lines establish a sense of lost wonder, a nostalgic yearning for the ability to perceive the world with unfiltered, unselfconscious attention. The speaker’s memory of "savoring" simple details—color, movement, shadow—implies a deep connection to the sensory world, a connection that seems to have dimmed over time. This early reference to childhood sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of the gap between youthful perception and the complexities of adult existence.

The shift from past to present is marked by the speaker’s declaration: "I want for two things: / to know the print of my hand and the smell of marrow." This desire is both physical and existential. "The print of my hand" suggests a longing for tangible evidence of identity, an imprint that confirms one’s presence in the world. The "smell of marrow" evokes something deeper, more primal—a yearning to connect with the core of life, the essence that lies beneath the surface. Marrow, the substance within bones, symbolizes the innermost part of oneself, both literally and metaphorically. The speaker’s desire to "know" these things reflects a need to reconcile the external markers of existence with the internal, often elusive, sense of self.

However, this desire is complicated by the next admission: "Yet my eyes desire another darkness." This line introduces a tension between the longing for self-knowledge and a pull toward oblivion or the unknown. "Another darkness" could signify death, the unconscious, or even a retreat from the clarity the speaker claims to seek. The juxtaposition of light—the vividness of childhood perception—and darkness—the ambiguity of adult desire—creates a poignant contrast, underscoring the complexities of aging and self-reflection.

The poem’s middle lines—“Whimes hide be hiyd a mask of feathers and of songs. / pitiful, the smoke's shawl.”—are more cryptic, layered with imagery that suggests concealment and transformation. The phrase "Whimes hide be hiyd" appears to be a typographical distortion, perhaps intentionally mirroring the speaker’s fragmented perception or the distortion of memory over time. Interpreted as "whims hide behind," the line suggests that fleeting desires or impulses are masked by cultural or ceremonial symbols—“a mask of feathers and of songs.” Feathers and songs are often associated with Native American rituals, signifying a connection to spiritual traditions and communal identity. Yet, the speaker describes this ceremonial imagery as something that hides or obscures, implying a sense of disconnection or disillusionment with these traditional forms of expression.

The line "pitiful, the smoke's shawl" reinforces this theme of concealment and fragility. Smoke, ephemeral and intangible, is often used in purification rituals, but here it is described as "pitiful," suggesting that such rituals offer little comfort or clarity to the speaker. The "shawl," typically a symbol of warmth and protection, becomes a flimsy covering made of smoke, unable to shield against the deeper existential cold the speaker feels. This image highlights the limitations of both cultural practices and personal coping mechanisms in confronting the inevitability of aging and mortality.

The poem concludes with the stark, somber line: "In death my hair will grow." This final image serves as a powerful reminder of the body’s strange persistence beyond life. Hair, continuing to grow after death, symbolizes the paradox of life’s traces lingering even as consciousness fades. It’s a haunting detail that blurs the boundary between life and death, underscoring the speaker’s preoccupation with the physical and metaphysical aspects of existence. The growth of hair after death can be seen as both a testament to the body’s endurance and a symbol of the futility of clinging to physical identity when faced with mortality.

Structurally, Aitson’s poem reflects the speaker’s fragmented consciousness. The lack of punctuation and the abrupt shifts between images create a disjointed, almost dreamlike rhythm that mirrors the process of memory and introspection. The poem flows like a stream of thought, moving from vivid childhood recollections to abstract meditations on identity and death. This unstructured form allows the reader to experience the speaker’s fluctuating sense of self, as moments of clarity are interspersed with confusion and resignation.

Thematically, "Old Man Poem" explores the universal human struggle to reconcile the past with the present, the physical with the spiritual, and life with death. The speaker’s journey from the vivid perceptions of childhood to the murky uncertainties of old age reflects a broader commentary on the passage of time and the search for meaning in a world that often feels elusive. The desire to "know the print of my hand and the smell of marrow" speaks to a fundamental human need for connection and self-understanding, while the repeated references to darkness and concealment underscore the difficulty of achieving that understanding.

In the context of Aitson’s broader work, "Old Man Poem" continues his exploration of identity, memory, and the intersection of personal and cultural narratives. His use of natural imagery and references to Indigenous traditions situates the poem within a specific cultural framework, while also addressing universal themes of aging, mortality, and the search for meaning. The poem’s sparse, evocative language invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loss, transformation, and the enduring quest to understand oneself in the face of life’s impermanence.

Ultimately, "Old Man Poem" is a quiet, powerful meditation on the passage of time and the complexities of self-awareness. Through its delicate interplay of imagery and introspection, the poem captures the tension between memory and forgetting, presence and absence, life and death. Aitson’s ability to convey profound existential themes with such economy of language speaks to his skill as a poet and his deep engagement with the human condition.


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