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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Making Smoke" by Robert Bly is a richly allegorical poem that weaves together themes of longing, transformation, and the quest for understanding within the context of a deeply symbolic journey. Through the narrative of a boy's unconventional voyage into the belly of a whale, Bly explores the nature of desire, the pursuit of wisdom, and the eventual return to one's roots enriched by the journey. The poem begins with a boy characterized by an insatiable longing, a universal theme that resonates with the human condition's endless search for more—more understanding, more connection, more fulfillment. This longing propels the boy into a literal leap of faith, as he dives into the sea in pursuit of the "big Mother," a symbol rich in psychological and mythological connotations. This figure represents not only a nurturing, protective presence but also the vast, unknowable depths of the subconscious and the divine feminine that encompasses creation and wisdom. The whale, agreeing to swallow the boy, becomes an agent of transformation. This act, while initially framed as "wrong," signifies a necessary descent into the unknown—a journey to the depths that is essential for growth and enlightenment. The whale's belly, rather than being a place of darkness and confinement, is depicted as a "curved library," a repository of knowledge with "high ladders" and a system for fulfilling requests, evoking the grandeur and the intellectual wealth of the British Museum. This internal landscape transforms the whale from a mere creature of the sea into a symbol of the vast, unexplored territories of the mind and spirit, offering the boy an unexpected sanctuary for learning and reflection. The motif of needing "a fire to get out" introduces the element of sacrifice and creative destruction as necessary components of transformation. The burning of romance novels to create smoke, which eventually leads to his release, underscores the idea that escape from the confines of our own limitations often requires the relinquishing of previously held beliefs or desires. The act of burning, with its connotations of purification and renewal, facilitates the boy's rebirth and emergence from the depths. The conclusion of the poem, where the boy swims to the shore of a fishing town in Alaska and calls his father to share his story, speaks to the return phase of the hero's journey. This return is not just a physical coming back but a symbolic reintegration into the world with newfound wisdom and a story to tell. The boy's journey into and out of the whale parallels the archetypal journey into the underworld or into the self, where the seeker emerges changed, ready to impart knowledge and insights gained from the depths. "Making Smoke" encapsulates a profound narrative of seeking, transformation, and return. Robert Bly crafts a metaphorical voyage that mirrors the inner quests we undertake in search of meaning and understanding. The poem eloquently captures the essence of the human spirit's resilience, the value of the quest for knowledge, and the transformative power of stories in our lives. Through this narrative, Bly invites readers to contemplate their own journeys, the depths they are willing to explore for wisdom, and the fires they must light to find their way back home, enriched and ready to share their own tales. POEM TEXT: https://thekittycats.wordpress.com/category/authors/robert-bly/
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PRODIGAL SON by ROBERT BLY ROBERT GOULD SHAW by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR AN APPEAL TO MY COUNTRYWOMEN by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER TRAILING ARBUTUS by HENRY ABBEY CITY AND VILLAGE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON THE BRIDES' TRAGEDY: ACT 3, SCENE 2 by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |
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