Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Last Night We Saw South Pacific" by James Applewhite is a contemplative poem that intertwines the immediate beauty of nature with profound reflections on the universe's vast temporal scales and the human condition. The poem opens with a vivid image of a cardinal in a crape myrtle, a moment of beauty that is both grounding and ephemeral. This serene image is set against the backdrop of the relentless passage of time and the inevitable cycles of creation and destruction that define the universe.

Applewhite invokes the relentless progress of time and the cyclical nature of existence through references to natural phenomena and cosmic events. The mention of Earth's orbit, mass extinctions, and the eventual fate of the planet serves to contextualize human life within a much broader, almost incomprehensible temporal scale. These vast processes, marked by change and chance, underscore the transient nature of all things, including human endeavors and emotions.

The poem reflects on the paradox of seeking meaning in a world governed by processes that seem indifferent to individual existence. The poet ponders the purpose of a material world and the universe's expansion, questioning why a universe that explodes into being would invent the beauty of night and starlight. This line of inquiry highlights the human need to find significance in the face of an indifferent cosmos.

Despite the overwhelming scale of cosmic events, the poem suggests that humans have a unique role in the universe: we are the part of it that can feel, think, and perceive beauty. Our consciousness allows us to interpret and ascribe meaning to the world around us, transforming physical phenomena into experiences imbued with emotional and intellectual depth. Through our senses and brains, we not only witness but actively participate in the universe's unfolding story.

The reference to "This Nearly Was Mine" from the musical South Pacific brings the poem back to the human scale, connecting the cosmic and existential themes to personal experience. The song, rich with longing and recognition of lost possibilities, serves as a metaphor for the human condition. It captures the complexity of human emotions—love, loss, and the desire for meaning—set against the backdrop of larger historical and cosmic narratives.

In "Last Night We Saw South Pacific," Applewhite offers a meditation on the beauty of the present moment, the inexorable flow of time, and the human capacity to find meaning and beauty amidst the vast, impersonal forces of the universe. The poem suggests that while the material world and the cosmos may follow their indifferent courses, human consciousness can create islands of meaning, beauty, and connection within the vast sea of existen

POEM TEXT: https://poets.org/poem/last-night-we-saw-south-pacific

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