Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ana of Bliss" by Mary Jo Bang is an evocative poem that delves into the intense and complex nature of desire, love, and connection. Through vivid imagery and a dialogue between the characters Ana and Ham, Bang explores the transformative power of passion and the ambiguity of bliss.

The poem opens with a "Heat rush of heaving," a phrase that immediately immerses the reader in the physicality and intensity of the moment. The "heart throbbing in the inner ear" and "wrists twined with a red thread of electricity" further evoke the visceral and electric nature of attraction, capturing the physical responses that accompany deep emotional engagement.

Ana's utterance, "O Ham," followed by her swooning "in the rattled reunion and sudden summer of thunder," suggests a moment of profound connection, heightened by the dramatic backdrop of a thunderstorm. This scene of reunion is charged with anticipation and the promise of fulfillment.

Ham's response, "My but aren't we?" left intriguingly incomplete, invites speculation about the nature of their relationship and the mutual recognition of their entanglement. Ana's reply, acknowledging her own complexities and vulnerabilities—"aren't I a rampant array of negatives bashed and belittled?"—reveals her self-awareness and the inherent contradictions within her.

Ham's endearment, "my little passion flower," and his invitation to "Come in, come in," suggest a desire to nurture and embrace Ana's complexities, offering a space of acceptance and intimacy. The comparison of their ascent in an elevator to Icarus's flight introduces a note of caution, alluding to the mythological figure's tragic fall, and hinting at the risks inherent in their passionate engagement.

The moment of Ana turning her head as she enters the door, coupled with Ham's question, "Did you hear what I said?" underscores the challenges of communication and the desire for acknowledgment and understanding within their relationship. Ham's assertion, "You would so easy to love," juxtaposed with the description of their bond as "An irreversible welding" of "Indefatigable mortar—bitumen or pitch," conveys the strength and permanence of their connection, despite its complexities.

The closing question, "Wasn't this what is bliss?" invites the reader to contemplate the nature of bliss itself—is it found in the tumultuous and consuming moments of connection, in the acceptance of one another's flaws, or in the enduring bond that withstands the trials of passion? Through "Ana of Bliss," Mary Jo Bang offers a nuanced exploration of love's capacity to both elevate and challenge, leaving the reader to ponder the ephemeral and elusive quality of bliss.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Louise_in_Love/T5AGZgFIZ-AC?q=&gbpv=1&bsq=ANA%20OF%20BLISS#f=false

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