Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Book of Days 30" by Martha Collins is a deeply evocative poem that intertwines themes of nature, identity, vulnerability, and power through a series of vivid, interconnected images. Collins crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, exploring the complex dynamics of exposure and concealment, freedom and constraint.

The poem begins with the image of heavy leaves, described as "burdens, / little animals in the wind, paws, mouths." This opening metaphor sets a tone of weighted movement and animate nature, suggesting a world teeming with life and the inherent struggles within it. The leaves, animated and burdened, serve as a poignant symbol for the complexities of existence and the myriad forms of life that navigate the pressures of the natural world.

The subsequent imagery of undressing, "To strip her down, take off / the green dress, the red shoes," evokes themes of vulnerability and exposure. The act of stripping away layers, both literal and metaphorical, reveals the essence beneath, likened to "her closed her nymph / her mermaid legs --" These references to mythical female figures associated with nature and transformation further deepen the poem's exploration of identity and the fluid boundaries between the human and the natural world.

Collins poses the question, "Is the sea open / or closed space?" This inquiry reflects on the dual nature of the sea as a vast, open expanse that can also enclose and envelop. The contemplation of the sea's openness or closedness mirrors the poem's broader meditation on the tensions between freedom and containment, between the desire for openness and the need for boundaries.

The reminiscence of swimming in "the brown river we swam, suits / in our hands, the current / we rode --" introduces a sense of liberation and communion with nature. The act of swimming, with the tactile sensation of the current, embodies a moment of surrender to natural forces, an experience of being carried and supported by the water.

The mention of "Victim, I heard" shifts the tone, introducing an element of danger or harm, perhaps alluding to the vulnerabilities that come with openness and exposure. The feeling of "the seal, / the openings closed" suggests a return to safety, the closing of openings as a protective response to perceived threats.

The poem concludes with the contemplation, "Can this be power, this open?" This question challenges traditional associations of power with dominance or control, suggesting instead that there is strength in openness, in the willingness to expose oneself to the world. Collins invites the reader to reconsider the nature of power, proposing that true strength may lie in vulnerability and the capacity to embrace the full spectrum of experience.

"Book of Days 30" is a lyrical meditation on the interplay between the inner and outer worlds, the personal and the elemental. Through its rich imagery and thoughtful questioning, Collins navigates the delicate balance between revealing and concealing, between the desire for connection with the natural world and the instinct for self-preservation. The poem serves as a reflection on the paradoxes of existence, inviting readers to explore the depths of their own identities and relationships with the world around them.

POEM TEXT: https://capa.conncoll.edu/collins.space.htm#DAYS

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...