Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"As If the Trees by Their Very Roots Had Hold of Us" by Charles Bernstein delves into the complexities of memory, time, and human experience with a contemplative and introspective tone. The poem reflects on the paradoxical nature of anticipating, experiencing, and remembering moments in life, exploring how these processes shape our understanding of existence and the passage of time. Bernstein's use of imagery and metaphor invites readers into a meditation on the transient yet impactful nature of life's events.

The poem begins by evoking the strangeness of remembering a visit that now seems distantly "past," highlighting the fluidity with which time moves from anticipation to memory. Bernstein captures the weight of anticipation, the fleeting nature of the present moment ("constantly slipping away"), and the eventual retrospection that leaves us feeling both removed from and immersed in our past experiences. This cycle is likened to "sand through your fingers in an old movie," a metaphor that emphasizes the inevitable loss and elusiveness of time.

Bernstein's reflection on the repetitive nature of going over memories ("We've gone over this a thousand times") underscores the human tendency to revisit and search for meaning in past experiences, even when such efforts yield "unrewarding" tangible results. The act of remembering and searching becomes a necessary part of understanding one's self and navigating the continuum of time.

Hope is depicted as "a splint of thought / Projected outward," a fragile yet essential projection into the future that seeks to find grounding or "catch" somewhere. This projection of hope speaks to the human desire for continuity and connection amid the ebb and flow of life's experiences.

The poem also touches on the challenge of moving forward ("that harsher necessity" of going on) while feeling unchanged by the passage of time. Bernstein suggests that, despite the years that have elapsed, there's a sense of immediacy to past events, as if they have just occurred, challenging the linear conception of time and the notion of progress.

The imagery of "shoring ourselves hour by hour / In anticipation that soon there will be / Nothing to do" reflects the human condition of constantly bracing for the future, only to find that living in the moment is elusive ("Unable to live in it"). This anticipation of future inactivity paradoxically fuels our present actions, highlighting the irony of human endeavor.

Bernstein's contemplation of presence and progression suggests that true understanding and peace may lie in ceasing to anticipate and instead engaging fully with the unfolding present. However, this realization is complicated by the difficulty of achieving such a state of being ("if we could only see / It, which is to say, to begin with, stop looking with / Such anticipation").

The poem concludes by questioning the nature of communication and understanding through language ("more of these tracings, as if by some magic / Of the phonetic properties of these squiggles"). Bernstein posits that the power of presence may itself be a form of postponement, a deferral of understanding or connection.

"As If the Trees by Their Very Roots Had Hold of Us" is a profound exploration of the human experience of time, memory, and the continual search for meaning and connection. Bernstein's poetic meditation invites readers to reflect on the complexities of presence, anticipation, and the enduring impact of fleeting moments in shaping our lives.

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