Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Why Say to Them", Robert Creeley reflects on the nature of truth, identity, and the quiet acceptance of self. This poem wrestles with the complexities of personal authenticity and the often futile task of conveying one’s inner truths to others. Creeley’s words resonate with a sense of resignation toward external validation, instead emphasizing an inward journey that culminates in a realization of self-contentment and understanding. Through his minimalist language, he distills the essence of individual existence as something complete and whole without the need for external recognition or interpretation.

The poem begins with the speaker questioning the necessity of justifying oneself: “Why say to them / truth is confounded with opposition.” This opening sets up a tension between inner understanding and external perception. By framing truth as something that is “confounded with opposition,” Creeley suggests that attempts to articulate one’s inner reality are often met with misunderstanding or resistance. The poet seems to imply that truth, when spoken, becomes vulnerable to interpretation, distortion, or even rejection, as if personal experience cannot be neatly translated into words without losing its essence.

The line “or that—or that what is / were a happiness” introduces a wistful reflection on the nature of happiness. By using “were” rather than “is,” Creeley evokes a sense of nostalgia or loss, as if happiness is something that exists in an idealized past or an unreachable state. This phrasing implies that happiness, like truth, becomes elusive when subjected to the scrutiny of language and external judgment. The speaker’s reluctance to “say to them” suggests that explaining or defining happiness may strip it of its genuine, unspoken quality, reducing it to something that can be easily misunderstood or misinterpreted.

In the next stanza, Creeley writes, “Simple, to be said, a life / is nothing more than itself, / and all the bodies together / are, one by one, the measure.” Here, he strips life down to its most essential form, emphasizing that existence in itself is complete. The simplicity of “a life is nothing more than itself” conveys a sense of acceptance, a recognition that life does not need to be more than what it is to hold value. This line reinforces the idea that self-worth and understanding come from within, rather than from comparison or validation by others. The phrase “all the bodies together / are, one by one, the measure” implies a collective humanity, suggesting that each life, in its individual uniqueness, contributes to the whole. Each person’s existence is a unit of measurement, valuable in its singularity yet interconnected with others in defining what it means to be human.

Creeley’s closing lines, “I am finally / what I had to be, / neither more nor less— / become happiness,” signal a culmination of self-acceptance. The speaker reaches a state of peace with their own identity, acknowledging that they have “become” what they were meant to be. This final revelation rejects the pressure to conform to any external standard, affirming that the speaker’s self-realization is not about achieving more or being something else, but rather embracing who they are in essence. The phrase “neither more nor less” suggests a balance, a fulfillment found in the precise acknowledgment of oneself as sufficient. By “becoming happiness,” the speaker achieves a state of contentment that is rooted in self-knowledge and acceptance, rather than external affirmation or definition.

In "Why Say to Them", Robert Creeley encapsulates the journey toward inner fulfillment and the serenity that comes from understanding that self-worth is intrinsic, not contingent on others’ perceptions or judgments. Through his pared-down language and introspective tone, Creeley invites readers to consider the value of unspoken truths, the simplicity of being, and the quiet strength in embracing one’s authentic self. This poem ultimately offers a meditation on the essence of happiness, suggesting that it lies not in what one projects outwardly, but in the quiet, internal acceptance of one’s own existence as “nothing more than itself.”

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