Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Emanuel Swedenborg" delves into the life and mystical visions of the Swedish philosopher, theologian, and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). Swedenborg was known for his detailed explorations of the spiritual realms, which he claimed to have visited during states of visionary experience. Borges, with his characteristic blend of metaphysical reflection and precise imagery, captures Swedenborg's unique position as a seer who walked between the earthly and the divine.

The poem opens with a description of Swedenborg as a man "Taller than the others," indicating not just physical stature but also his intellectual and spiritual elevation above ordinary men. This suggests that Swedenborg possessed a deeper, more profound understanding of the world, one that set him apart from his contemporaries. The phrase "Walked, among them, at a distance" further emphasizes his isolation, even as he lived among people, as he was preoccupied with realities beyond the physical world.

Swedenborg is depicted as someone who could "call the angels / By their secret names," indicating his intimate knowledge of the divine. In many religious and mystical traditions, knowing the true names of spiritual beings is believed to grant power or deeper insight, and Borges uses this to highlight Swedenborg's extraordinary connection to the spiritual realm. This ability sets him apart, suggesting that he operated within a different, higher dimension of understanding.

The poem continues to explore Swedenborg's unique vision: "He would see / That which earthly eyes do not see: / The fierce geometry, the crystal / Labyrinth of God and the sordid / Milling of infernal delights." Here, Borges contrasts the divine and the infernal, portraying Swedenborg's ability to perceive the "fierce geometry" and "crystal labyrinth" of God's creation—metaphors for the complex, ordered, and beautiful structure of the universe as designed by the divine. In contrast, the "sordid milling of infernal delights" captures the chaotic, base pleasures of hell, emphasizing the dualities that Swedenborg witnessed: the sublime and the depraved, the ordered and the chaotic.

Borges then reflects on Swedenborg's understanding of the human soul: "He knew that Glory and Hell too / Are in your soul, with all their myths." This suggests that Swedenborg recognized the dual nature of the human experience, where both heaven and hell reside within the individual. Borges implies that these realms are not just external realities but are deeply embedded within the human psyche, shaped by our beliefs, actions, and inner struggles. This aligns with Swedenborg's own teachings, which posited that the spiritual world reflects the states of human souls.

The poem continues with a reference to Greek philosophy: "He knew, like the Greek, that the days / Of time are Eternity’s mirrors." This alludes to the concept that our experiences in the temporal world are reflections or microcosms of eternal truths. Borges suggests that Swedenborg, much like the ancient Greek philosophers, saw time as a mere shadow or reflection of a higher, timeless reality—eternity.

The poem concludes with a description of Swedenborg's intellectual rigor: "In dry Latin he went on listing / The unconditional Last Things." The "Last Things" traditionally refer to the eschatological concepts of death, judgment, heaven, and hell—the final realities that await every soul. Borges emphasizes Swedenborg's methodical, almost clinical approach to these profound topics, as he cataloged and explained them in "dry Latin." This reflects Swedenborg's meticulous scholarship and his attempt to communicate his mystical visions through the precise, if sometimes dry, language of theology and philosophy.

"Emanuel Swedenborg" is a rich and contemplative poem that captures the essence of a man who straddled the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds. Borges highlights Swedenborg's unique vision, his profound understanding of the dualities within the human soul, and his attempt to articulate these mystical insights through the language of theology. The poem pays tribute to Swedenborg's legacy as a thinker who, though isolated by his extraordinary insights, sought to share his vision of the divine and the infernal with the world. Through Borges' words, Swedenborg is immortalized as a towering figure who glimpsed the eternal truths that lie beyond the reach of ordinary perception.

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