Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Umbre" by Charles Bernstein is a complex, evocative poem that navigates through themes of memory, identity, and the search for meaning within the flux of life. The poem employs a stream of consciousness style, weaving together disparate images and thoughts to create a tapestry that reflects the intricacies of human experience.

The setting begins in a "pitch pane panelled kitchen-living room," grounding the poem in a domestic space that serves as the launching point for a journey into the speaker's reflections and memories. The presence of a chimney piece and the mention of following "here" suggest a pursuit or an arrival, perhaps at a new understanding or stage in life. The encircling mist and the looming church beyond the window introduce elements of mystery and spirituality, framing the contemplation that unfolds.

Bernstein's use of imagery—a small carpet of screen, turf, cushions—combined with reflections on the future and experiences of comfort and ease, juxtaposes the tangible with the intangible, the physical with the metaphysical. This juxtaposition underscores the poem's exploration of how external environments and internal states intersect and influence one another.

The poem traverses various landscapes and scenes, from hikers and interlopers to the romanticized life of "the indigenous aristocracy" and "feudal castles." These shifts in setting and perspective convey a sense of movement through time and space, reflecting the speaker's journey through life and the search for a place or identity that resonates with a sense of purpose or belonging.

The attempt "to found a new industry for the tiny & disoriented" speaks to a desire to create meaning or find a niche within the world's vastness and complexity. The question "Do you want a foothold" resonates as a metaphorical inquiry into the desire for stability and grounding amidst life's uncertainties.

The poem's latter sections, with their references to a bluff that feels almost like an island, seals in the tide, and a landscape devoid of "functional table mats," suggest a movement towards isolation and a contemplation of nature's beauty and indifference. The imagery of night, the ravine, and the wide shingly outflow convey a sense of solitude and the smallness of human concerns in the face of the natural world's vastness.

"Umbre" culminates in a reflection on the challenge of navigating life ("This was not an easy matter for there was no road approach") and the realization that existence is often like navigating without a clear path, akin to "fishboats" that must find their way through open waters.

Throughout the poem, Bernstein masterfully employs language and imagery to evoke a sense of searching and introspection. "Umbre" invites readers into a meditative journey that questions, reflects, and marvels at the complexities of life, memory, and the continuous quest for understanding and connection. The poem stands as a testament to the power of poetry to capture the ineffable aspects of human experience, challenging us to consider our own paths and the landscapes—both internal and external—that shape our journey through life.

POEM TEXT: http://eclipsearchive.org/projects/TUUMBA/TUUMBA20/Tuumba20.pdf

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