Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Xerox" by Ben Belitt is a profound exploration of identity, replication, and the human condition through the metaphor of a photocopying process. The poem begins with the imagery of an original man positioning himself to be copied, a scenario that instantly evokes themes of self-reflection and duplication. As the photocopy machine's lights and mechanics come to life, the man contemplates the essence of being replicated, of becoming 'many' from 'one.'

The process of duplication described in the poem—where the man's entire being is subject to a mechanical, almost clinical, reproduction—serves as a powerful allegory for the existential questions surrounding individuality and the search for meaning in a world where uniqueness can be effortlessly duplicated. The imagery of the "pilot light" turning garnet and the "salmander's eye" blinking in the darkness evokes a sense of primal, elemental transformation, suggesting that the act of replication touches something deep and fundamental in the human psyche.

Belitt's use of vivid, almost apocalyptic language to describe the photocopying process ("the eye of the holocaust passes," "the hell of the copied") highlights the violence inherent in the act of replication, suggesting that something essential might be lost or transformed in the process. The poem grapples with the tension between the desire to remain "lonely, essential, unique" and the inevitable fact of our multiplicity and interconnectedness with others ("What does it mean to be legion?").

The poem then expands its focus to encompass not just the individual being copied but the whole of human experience, where "rapists, the lovers, the stealers of blessings" are all part of the complex tapestry being replicated. This move underscores the idea that replication is not just a physical or mechanical process but also a deeply existential one, reflecting our desires, fears, and the very essence of our humanity.

Towards the end, the poem shifts from despair and confusion to a plea for forgiveness and understanding of human duplicity and complexity. The request for "our imitations" to be accepted reflects a longing for authenticity and recognition in a world where originality is continuously challenged by duplication.

"Xerox" ultimately suggests that the act of replication, whether through technology or through the echoes of our actions and choices in the world, challenges us to confront the nature of our identity and the meaning of being truly human. The "original man" stepping down from the photocopy machine, "unassisted," symbolizes the resilience of the human spirit in the face of these existential dilemmas, suggesting that despite our duplications and the complexities they entail, there is still a core of selfhood that remains uniquely ours.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Yellow_Shoe_Poets/2D6aqhb651oC?q=BACA+%22MEN+LATE+AT+NIGHT+COOK+COFFEE+IN+RUSTY+CANS%22&gbpv=1&bsq=XEROX#f=false

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