Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s "Mother's Voice" is a poignant meditation on the lasting impact of a parent’s influence, particularly in the aftermath of their death. The poem delves into themes of identity, desire, and the internalization of a parent’s voice, exploring the complex ways in which the speaker's sense of self becomes entangled with the memory and influence of their mother. Through minimalist language and introspective reflection, Creeley captures the subtle and powerful ways a parent's presence continues to shape one’s actions, desires, and even their inner voice.

The poem opens with a direct acknowledgment of the mother’s death: "In these few years since her death I hear mother’s voice say under my own." This suggests that, despite her passing, the mother’s voice persists within the speaker, almost as if it has become part of their own internal dialogue. The phrase "under my own" implies that the mother’s voice is not just a distant memory but an active presence that runs beneath the speaker's thoughts and words. The phrase highlights the speaker’s complex relationship with their mother’s influence, as if their own identity has become intertwined with hers.

The mother’s voice is characterized by a sense of restraint: "I won’t want any more of that." This line reflects a form of self-denial or refusal of excess, possibly representing the mother’s worldview, one of moderation or acceptance of limits. The speaker, now internalizing this voice, feels this restraint echoing within them. The phrase "My cheekbones resonate with her emphasis" conveys a physical manifestation of this influence, as if the mother’s voice has become so deeply ingrained in the speaker that it resonates within their very body. The use of "resonate" suggests that this influence is not just intellectual but also emotional, deeply felt at a visceral level.

The following lines introduce a more complex emotional dynamic: "Nothing of not wanting only but the distance there from common fact of others frightens me." Here, the speaker expresses fear of the distance created by this inherited reluctance or refusal. The phrase "common fact of others" likely refers to the desires and aspirations that most people feel—wanting more, seeking fulfillment, or pursuing desires. The speaker’s internalized reluctance to want "more of that" creates a sense of alienation from the rest of the world, as if they are distanced from the common experiences of others. This internal conflict between their mother’s influence and the pull of the outside world creates a sense of unease and isolation.

The next lines—"I look out at all this demanding world and try to put it quietly back, from me, say, thank you, I’ve already had some though I haven’t"—further explore this internal conflict. The "demanding world" represents the external pressures of society, which push the speaker toward desire, consumption, and engagement. However, the speaker, echoing their mother’s voice, attempts to push these demands away, offering a polite refusal: "thank you, I’ve already had some." This polite deflection, however, is revealed to be false—"though I haven’t"—indicating that the speaker actually has not experienced or fulfilled these desires but feels compelled to refuse them anyway, in line with their mother’s influence.

The line "but I’ve said no, she has, it’s not my own voice anymore" marks a critical moment of realization for the speaker. They recognize that the voice of refusal they have internalized is not truly their own, but their mother’s. The speaker’s identity and desires have become overshadowed by the lingering influence of their mother’s voice, to the point where they feel as though their own voice has been displaced. This realization underscores the tension between personal autonomy and the lasting impact of parental influence, as the speaker grapples with the difficulty of distinguishing their own desires from those they have inherited.

The poem’s concluding lines—"It’s higher as hers was and accommodates too simply its frustrations when I at least think I want more and must have it."—capture the speaker’s struggle between the desire for more and the easy acceptance of limitations imposed by their mother’s voice. The speaker notes that their voice has become "higher as hers was," suggesting a tonal shift that mirrors the mother’s vocal patterns, further emphasizing the speaker’s internalization of her influence. The phrase "accommodates too simply its frustrations" reflects the speaker’s realization that their mother’s voice tends to accept frustrations and limitations too easily, without challenging or pushing back against them. The speaker, however, acknowledges that they "want more" and "must have it," signaling a tension between their own desires and the internalized restraint they feel from their mother’s voice.

Structurally, "Mother's Voice" follows Creeley’s characteristic style of short, enjambed lines that create a sense of fluidity and introspection. The lack of punctuation in many places allows the thoughts to flow naturally, mirroring the way the speaker’s reflections move seamlessly between their present state of mind and the persistent influence of their mother’s voice. This structure also reflects the blurring of boundaries between the speaker’s voice and their mother’s, as the lines bleed into one another without clear separation.

Thematically, the poem explores the lasting impact of parental influence on identity and desire. The mother’s voice, even after her death, continues to shape the speaker’s thoughts and actions, creating a conflict between their inherited restraint and their own desires. The poem raises questions about the nature of identity, suggesting that our sense of self is often shaped by external forces, particularly the voices of those we are closest to. The speaker’s realization that their voice is no longer entirely their own underscores the difficulty of breaking free from these inherited influences.

In conclusion, Robert Creeley’s "Mother's Voice" is a contemplative and emotionally charged exploration of identity, desire, and the lasting impact of parental influence. Through minimalist language and introspective reflection, the poem captures the internal conflict of a speaker who finds their own desires overshadowed by the voice of their mother, even years after her death. The poem’s exploration of the tension between personal autonomy and the inherited voices of those we love invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with the past and the ways in which familial influence shapes their sense of self.

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