Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Requiem: One: Absolute Arguments" by Kelly Cherry is a profound exploration of the nature of suffering, morality, memory, and the quest for understanding in the face of life's ultimate realities, particularly death and loss. The poem is a meditation on the complexities of human emotion, the limits of human understanding, and the possibility of a divine presence that is both a part of us and beyond our full comprehension.

The poem begins with a paradoxical statement about the nature of absolute arguments, suggesting that any stance taken on comparing one's suffering to historical atrocities like the Holocaust inevitably leads to moral dilemmas. This introduces the theme of the poem: the intricate and often contradictory nature of human suffering, memory, and the search for meaning.

Cherry delves into personal reflections, weaving memories of loss and the process of grieving with philosophical musings on the nature of suffering and the human condition. The imagery of the cardinal, the rain, and the poet's memories serves as a backdrop to these reflections, symbolizing the vividness of life and the persistence of memory amid the inevitability of death.

The poem grapples with the idea of self-pity, suggesting that true suffering obliterates the world, leaving the sufferer in a state of isolation where only their pain exists. Yet, Cherry proposes that to feel sorrow for others is a form of happiness and a blessing, as it allows one to connect with the suffering of others and transcend one's own isolation.

As the poem progresses, Cherry reflects on the loss of her parents and others, the haunting presence of memory, and the longing for a divine intervention that could restore what has been lost. However, she expresses skepticism about the existence of a God that conforms to traditional notions of omnipotence and benevolence, suggesting instead that divinity might be something that reveals itself through our consciousness and is both a part of us and beyond us.

Ultimately, "Requiem: One: Absolute Arguments" is a deeply introspective and philosophical poem that challenges readers to confront their own beliefs about suffering, loss, and the divine. It is a call to recognize the divinity within ourselves and to understand our mortality as a fundamental aspect of the human condition. Through its rich imagery, complex themes, and emotional depth, the poem invites us to reflect on the nature of existence and our place in the universe.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hazard_and_Prospect/aMXCHFLO3kEC?q=&gbpv=1&bsq=REQUIEM#f=false

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