Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley';s poem "Roman Sketchbook: Walk" is a brief but deeply evocative meditation on movement, obedience, and the inner conflict between autonomy and submission. By invoking a variety of commands, both religious and coercive, Creeley suggests a tension between the act of walking—normally a voluntary, individual action—and the sense of being compelled or directed by an external force.

The poem opens with "Walk out now as if to the commandment go forth," immediately presenting the act of walking as a response to an external directive. The phrase "go forth" has Biblical connotations, evoking the language of religious commandments that imply a sense of divine purpose or duty. This could suggest that the speaker is following some higher calling, yet the use of "as if" adds a layer of ambiguity, implying that the speaker is mimicking an act of obedience rather than genuinely embracing it. The tension between the sense of purpose implied by "go forth" and the hesitancy implied by "as if" reflects a questioning of the legitimacy or necessity of this command.

The following phrase, "or is it come forth," subtly shifts the meaning. "Come forth" is an imperative often associated with direct confrontation or an unveiling—calling someone out of hiding or into the light. The shift from "go forth" to "come forth" changes the emphasis from outward movement toward an uncertain destination to a directive that pulls the speaker into visibility, perhaps against their will. The ambiguity in these commands evokes a sense of confusion or indecisiveness, as if the speaker is caught between multiple imperatives, each with different implications for what it means to move forward.

The line "Come out with your hands up . . ." brings a distinct, coercive tone to the poem, reminiscent of police or military orders. The command "Come out with your hands up" suggests a situation of forced surrender, where the speaker is left with no choice but to comply. The ellipsis at the end of this line adds an unfinished quality, as if the threat or demand remains unresolved. This sudden, stark shift from the almost sacred undertone of "go forth" to the aggressive "Come out with your hands up" underscores the poem';s theme of coercion versus voluntary action. It conveys the dual nature of commands—some inspiring or guiding, others imposing submission and stripping away agency.

The final line, "acquiescent to each step," ties together the imagery of movement and obedience, suggesting that the speaker';s journey is marked by compliance. The word "acquiescent" conveys a passive acceptance, implying that each step is taken in response to external pressure rather than a self-directed choice. There is a sense of reluctant obedience here, as if the speaker has surrendered their autonomy and is simply yielding to the force of these commands.

"Roman Sketchbook: Walk" explores the nuances of movement as an act that can be both voluntary and coerced. Creeley juxtaposes the different types of commands—from the divine "go forth" to the forceful "Come out with your hands up"—to emphasize the tension between autonomy and submission. The act of walking, which might ordinarily be seen as an expression of freedom, becomes an act dictated by external voices, each with a different intention.

The ambiguity of these directives invites the reader to reflect on the nature of authority and the different ways in which individuals respond to it. The commands can be seen as metaphors for the various forces—religious, societal, or political—that shape human behavior, and the poem suggests that the speaker';s journey through life is influenced by these often contradictory forces. The repetition of the imperative mood, combined with the sense of compliance in the final line, creates a sense of inevitability, as if the speaker’s path is predetermined by the weight of these external demands.

Through its minimalist structure and evocative language, "Walk" captures the struggle between the desire for independence and the pressures to conform or obey. The tension between the sacred and the coercive, the voluntary and the forced, is reflected in the conflicting commands that guide the speaker’s actions. In the end, the poem suggests that each step forward may be taken in a state of acquiescence, a reluctant submission to the myriad forces that dictate the course of one’s life. This layered exploration of movement and obedience reveals the complexity of agency and the subtle power dynamics that influence our decisions and actions.

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