Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Narrow Mind" by Dick Allen is a meditative exploration of the limitations of perception and understanding that constrain human consciousness. The poem anthropomorphizes the concept of a "narrow mind," placing it in a natural, almost idyllic setting that contrasts sharply with the mind's closed-off nature. Through vivid imagery and allegory, Allen delves into the theme of intellectual and emotional insularity, suggesting both the comfort and the inherent dangers it poses to growth and understanding.

The poem begins by situating the narrow mind in "a small backwater," immediately evoking a sense of isolation and stagnation. This setting, replete with "dragonflies and darning needles" and the "plash and galump of a frog," conjures a world that is rich in its simplicity but limited in its scope. The narrow mind's existence is circumscribed by the immediate and the familiar, its curiosity stunted by the boundaries of its small world.

Allen deftly uses the natural imagery to reflect the state of the narrow mind, which is fed by whispers and proclamations, by the secretive and the overt, yet remains fundamentally unchanged and unchallenged. Its preference for the sunlit log or the familiarity of the shore underscores its resistance to venturing beyond the known, beyond the safety of its confines.

The poem's tone shifts as it addresses the demands of the narrow mind, revealing a deeper commentary on human nature's tendency towards defensiveness when faced with the unfamiliar or challenging. The narrow mind's insistence on never being shaken, and its willingness to "die for that right," speaks to the defensive mechanisms that people often employ to protect their established beliefs and perceptions, even in the face of growth-inducing opportunities.

Allen's advice on how to approach the narrow mind is both practical and metaphorical, suggesting that to engage with and possibly expand a closed-off perspective, one must tread carefully, respecting its fragility and resistance to change. The suggestion that one must "row around it or overwhelm it / With goodness and mercy and bribes" illustrates the delicate balance required to influence a narrow mind without causing it to retreat further into its shell.

Ultimately, "Narrow Mind" is a contemplation on the human condition, on the tension between comfort in the known and the perilous allure of the unknown. Allen invites the reader to reflect on their own mental landscapes, to consider the ways in which their minds might be narrow and the paths they might take to gently broaden their horizons. The poem serves as a reminder that growth requires patience, understanding, and sometimes, a willingness to navigate around the barriers we erect around our understanding of the world.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=37534

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