Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley';s poem "Billboards: Dream" reflects on the nature of truth and its purpose in guiding people toward a shared understanding of reality. Through sparse and evocative imagery, the poem explores the idea of truth as a foundation for connection, belonging, and the comfort of returning to something familiar. Creeley’s language is straightforward yet filled with depth, revealing a yearning for the familiarity of home and the connections that ground us in our sense of self.

The poem opens with the question, "What';s the truth / for except it / makes a place for / common entrances." This line poses a rhetorical question that considers the value and function of truth. The use of "truth" here goes beyond factual accuracy; it suggests something that provides a foundation for shared experience and understanding. The phrase "makes a place for / common entrances" implies that truth creates an entryway—a way for people to come together and find common ground. Truth is portrayed as the basis for connection, a shared point of reference that allows individuals to relate to one another and establish a sense of belonging.

The mention of "an / old way home down / the street ’midst faces" evokes a powerful image of familiarity and nostalgia. The "old way home" suggests a path that has been traveled many times, evoking the comfort of routine and the sense of safety that comes from returning to a familiar place. The word "home" adds an emotional layer, as it represents not just a physical location but also the feeling of being accepted and understood. The "faces" amidst which the speaker walks suggest community—the presence of others who share this journey or experience. This line conveys a longing for the familiar and a recognition of the significance of these shared moments in defining one';s sense of place and identity.

The phrase "the sounds’ flooding / poignance" introduces an auditory element, highlighting the emotional impact of the familiar sounds of home. The "flooding poignance" suggests that these sounds evoke a deep, almost overwhelming sense of emotion. This line captures the way in which familiar sounds—whether voices, street noises, or other auditory cues—can bring back memories and stir feelings of nostalgia. The word "flooding" suggests an intensity of emotion, as if these sounds are inescapable and wash over the speaker, evoking the past and the comfort of home.

The poem concludes with "the approach?" which leaves the reader with an open-ended question, suggesting that the journey home and the search for truth are ongoing processes. The "approach" implies movement toward something—perhaps a deeper understanding, a return to a place of comfort, or an attempt to reconnect with a sense of belonging. By ending the poem with a question, Creeley leaves the reader with a sense of uncertainty, as if the truth and the way home are not fixed destinations but something that must be continually sought.

"Billboards: Dream" is a meditation on the purpose of truth and the importance of shared experiences in creating a sense of connection and belonging. Truth, in Creeley';s portrayal, is not merely an abstract concept but something that provides a "place for common entrances"—a way for people to come together and find familiarity in one another. The imagery of the "old way home" and the "faces" amidst which the speaker walks evokes a sense of nostalgia and the comfort that comes from returning to something known. The emotional resonance of "the sounds’ flooding / poignance" underscores the impact of these shared experiences on our sense of self and place.

Through its minimalist language and evocative imagery, the poem suggests that truth is meaningful because it connects us to each other and to the places we call home. It provides a foundation for understanding and allows for a shared journey—a common "approach" toward something greater than the individual. However, the open-ended nature of the poem';s conclusion also suggests that this journey is not without its uncertainties and that the search for truth and belonging is ongoing, a process of continually approaching but never fully arriving.

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