Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley';s poem "Days" is a poignant and intimate meditation on love, fear, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and deeply personal language, Creeley captures the vulnerability of caring for another person and the desire to protect them from harm. The poem';s focus on "days" suggests an emphasis on the present moment, on valuing each day as it comes, and on the speaker';s wish to give those moments as a gift to the person they love. The rawness and directness of the poem reflect the intensity of the emotions involved—fear, tenderness, and a deep longing for the well-being of the loved one.

The poem opens with the line "In that strange light, / garish like wet blood," which immediately creates a vivid and unsettling atmosphere. The "strange light" evokes a sense of unfamiliarity, as if the speaker is witnessing something out of the ordinary. The comparison to "wet blood" heightens the intensity of this imagery, suggesting a sense of danger or violence, something raw and visceral. The use of "garish" conveys a harshness, an overwhelming quality that makes the scene feel uncomfortable or jarring. This unsettling opening sets the emotional tone for the rest of the poem—one of unease, vulnerability, and heightened awareness.

"I had no expectations / or hopes, nothing any more / one shouts at life to wake it up, / be nice to us" conveys a sense of resignation and weariness. The speaker acknowledges a loss of expectation or hope, suggesting that they have moved beyond the stage of actively trying to shape or control outcomes. The phrase "nothing any more / one shouts at life to wake it up" evokes the idea of a futile struggle to make life conform to one';s desires. The plea for life to "be nice to us" highlights a deep-seated yearning for relief, for kindness, and for a break from the harshness suggested by the opening imagery. This plea is left unfulfilled, emphasizing the speaker';s awareness of life';s unpredictability and the limits of their power over it.

"Simply scared / you’d be hurt, were already / changed" reveals the central concern of the poem—the fear of harm coming to a loved one. The word "simply" suggests that, amidst the complexity of emotions, the speaker';s primary feeling is a basic, instinctual fear for the other person';s well-being. The fear that they "were already / changed" implies that something has already occurred to alter the person the speaker cares about, and this change is a source of anxiety. The speaker';s fear is not abstract; it is deeply personal, rooted in the specific vulnerability of someone they love.

"I was, your head / out, looked—" introduces a fragmented, intimate moment between the speaker and the loved one. The phrase "your head / out" suggests an act of looking outward, perhaps a gesture of curiosity or engagement with the world, but it also carries a sense of exposure and vulnerability. The brevity and fragmentation of this line reflect the immediacy of the speaker';s emotional response, as if they are capturing a fleeting moment that is difficult to fully articulate. The ellipsis that follows indicates an interruption or a pause, leaving the moment open-ended and emphasizing the incomplete nature of understanding or expressing such raw emotions.

"I want each / day for you, each single day / for you, give them / as I can to you" is a declaration of love and dedication. The repetition of "each / day for you" emphasizes the speaker';s desire to make each moment count, to give the loved one as much of their time and attention as possible. The emphasis on "each single day" underscores the importance of the present, of valuing the time they have together and making the most of it. The line "give them / as I can to you" suggests both a willingness and a limitation—the speaker wants to give as much as they can, but there is an acknowledgment that their ability to do so may be constrained. This expression of love is not grand or idealized; it is rooted in the everyday, in the attempt to make each day meaningful for the person they care about.

The structure of "Days" is fragmented and spare, with enjambed lines that create a sense of movement and immediacy. The lack of punctuation adds to the fluidity of the poem, allowing the reader to move seamlessly between thoughts and emotions, reflecting the speaker';s ongoing, often unarticulated fears and hopes. The language is direct and unembellished, emphasizing the rawness of the emotions involved. Creeley’s choice of imagery—from the unsettling "garish like wet blood" to the tender wish for "each single day"—captures the complexity of loving someone while fearing for their safety, balancing the intensity of fear with the simplicity of everyday devotion.

"Days" ultimately explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the desire to protect those we care about. Through vivid and unsettling imagery, Creeley conveys the intensity of the speaker';s emotions—their fear, resignation, and deep commitment to the loved one. The poem emphasizes the importance of the present moment, of valuing each day as an opportunity to express love and care. The speaker’s wish to give "each single day" to the loved one reflects a profound understanding of the fragility of life and the need to cherish the time we have with those we hold dear. In its simplicity and directness, "Days" captures the essence of what it means to love someone deeply—to fear for them, to want to protect them, and to find solace in the act of giving what one can, day by day.

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