Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Gretel" by Mary Jo Bang is a poignant and evocative reimagining of the classic fairy tale narrative, embedding it with layers of emotional depth, existential angst, and a keen sense of isolation. The poem is rendered through the perspective of Gretel, a character traditionally known for her resourcefulness and courage in the face of dire circumstances. Here, Bang portrays Gretel as a figure of vulnerability and introspection, navigating through a "mist-mad forest" that serves as both a literal and metaphorical landscape of her predicament.

The opening line, "Mother, I am bare in a mist-mad forest," immediately sets a tone of desolation and abandonment, with the imagery of being "bare" suggesting both physical exposure and emotional rawness. The forest, cloaked in mist, becomes a symbol of the unknown and the uncontrollable, a realm where visibility is limited and the familiar becomes estranged. The moon's love, contrasted with the harshness of winter threatening to "crush" her, underscores the theme of seeking solace and guidance in an indifferent or hostile environment.

Gretel's "thousand visions" serve as a poignant reflection on longing and memory, spanning domestic scenes of her mother "ironing an enormous dress" to indulgent moments of "eating chocolate and honey, sausage and a luscious peach." These memories, imbued with a sense of warmth and comfort, stand in stark contrast to her present reality, evoking the pain of separation and the yearning for a lost sense of security and familial connection.

The reference to "the sun drunk and easy; spring blowing raw sky and storm scream; someone running" captures the turbulence and unpredictability of life, as well as the fleeting moments of beauty and freedom that punctuate existence. The command "Go, go. Take them, will you?" reflects a moment of critical decision and separation, likely alluding to the part of the fairy tale where the children are led into the forest, marking the beginning of their ordeal.

Bang's portrayal of the sea road with its "stopped ship fast asleep" adds a layer of stagnation and suspension, a metaphor for Gretel's own stalled journey and the liminal space she occupies between childhood innocence and the harsh realities of the adult world. The "elaborate beauty" of late autumn, with its quietude and the "heaven-born wind" that "wags and flaps the branch he left tied to a sere white ash," evokes a sense of melancholic beauty amidst desolation, suggesting the resilience and persistence of life even in the most barren of circumstances.

The conclusion of the poem, where "Silence itself is strategy, a signed language, gorgeous, fluid in the hands of those who learned it in childhood," speaks to the adaptive and communicative strategies developed in response to trauma and survival. Bang suggests that silence, often seen as a lack or void, can also be a form of expression, rich with meaning for those who have navigated the complexities of loss and displacement from a young age.

"Gretel" by Mary Jo Bang is a deeply reflective and nuanced recontextualization of a familiar tale, transforming it into a meditation on loss, memory, and the search for meaning within the depths of the human experience. Through her lyrical prowess and imaginative depth, Bang invites readers to explore the shadows and lights of Gretel's journey, offering a lens through which to contemplate our own wanderings through the mist-mad forests of existence.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Apology_for_Want/1W-qSUDbYSYC?q=%22you+wandered%22&gbpv=1&bsq=GRETEL#f=

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