Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley';s poem "Edge" delves into the complex nature of existence, perception, and the struggle to define oneself at the boundaries of experience. Through evocative language and fragmented imagery, the poem explores themes of uncertainty, introspection, and the tenuous line between presence and absence. The idea of an "edge" is both literal and metaphorical, representing the limits of understanding, identity, and the boundaries between being and thought.

The opening line, "Long over whatever edge, backward a false distance," immediately situates the reader at a threshold—a point that has already been crossed, perhaps irreversibly. The phrase "whatever edge" implies a kind of indifference or uncertainty about the nature of the boundary, suggesting that the speaker has moved beyond something without fully understanding what it was. The reference to "backward a false distance" conveys a sense of disorientation, as if the past is distorted or unreliable. This introduces the idea that any attempt to look back is deceptive, emphasizing the difficulty of fully understanding one';s trajectory or where one stands.

"Here and now, sentiment— / to begin again, forfeit in whatever sense an end, / to give up thought of it" reflects a struggle between presence and the desire for renewal. The "here and now" suggests an attempt to be present, to engage with the current moment. However, the word "sentiment" introduces an emotional element, indicating that feelings from the past are still influencing the present. The desire "to begin again" is tempered by the acknowledgment of forfeiting "an end"—implying that starting anew requires giving up the notion of closure. This captures the idea of an ongoing, cyclical process, where beginnings and endings blur into one another, making it difficult to find definitive resolution.

"Hanging on to the weather’s edge, hope, a sufficiency, / thinking of love’s accident, this long way come with no purpose," conveys a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. The phrase "hanging on to the weather’s edge" suggests a precarious position, as if the speaker is clinging to something ephemeral and beyond their control, like the weather. The inclusion of "hope, a sufficiency" suggests that hope is enough to sustain the speaker, even though it is fragile. The reference to "love’s accident" adds a layer of unpredictability, implying that love, too, is something that happens unexpectedly and without intention. The journey described as "this long way come with no purpose" evokes a sense of aimlessness, as if the speaker has traveled far without a clear goal or direction, highlighting the existential theme of searching for meaning.

"Face again, changing, these hands, feet, beyond me, / coming home, an intersection, crossing of one and many, / having all, having nothing—" captures the fluid and shifting nature of identity. The speaker’s "face again, changing" suggests that identity is not fixed but constantly in flux, while the reference to "hands, feet, beyond me" implies a sense of detachment from one';s own body. The mention of "coming home" evokes the idea of returning to a place of familiarity, but it is described as "an intersection, crossing of one and many," suggesting that the self is part of a larger collective experience. The juxtaposition of "having all, having nothing" conveys the paradoxical nature of existence, where one can feel both fulfilled and empty at the same time.

"Feeling thought, heart, head / generalities, all abstract— / no place for me or mine—" reflects the speaker';s struggle to find a concrete sense of self amid abstract thoughts and emotions. The distinction between "feeling thought" and "heart, head" highlights the difficulty of reconciling intellectual understanding with emotional experience. The phrase "no place for me or mine" evokes a sense of alienation, as if there is no defined space where the speaker truly belongs. This feeling of displacement underscores the theme of being at the "edge"—existing on the margins without a clear sense of center.

"I take the world and lose it, / miss it, misplace it, / put it back or try to, can’t / find it, fool it, even feel it." These lines convey the speaker';s struggle to grasp and understand the world. The repeated actions—taking, losing, missing, misplacing—create a sense of frustration and futility, as if every attempt to engage with the world ends in failure. The inability to "put it back" or "feel it" suggests a profound disconnection from reality, emphasizing the elusiveness of understanding and the difficulty of finding one';s place.

"The snow from a high sky, / grey, floats down to me softly." This image introduces a moment of quiet reflection. The snow, described as "from a high sky" and "grey," evokes a sense of distance and melancholy. The softness of the snow contrasts with the earlier frustration, suggesting a moment of calm or resignation. The snow’s gentle descent symbolizes the passage of time and the inevitability of change, adding to the contemplative tone of the poem.

"This must be the edge / of being before the thought of it / blurs it, can only try to recall it." The closing lines encapsulate the central theme of the poem—the edge of being, the threshold between existence and thought. The "edge of being" represents a state of pure existence, untainted by analysis or reflection. However, "before the thought of it / blurs it" suggests that the moment one tries to think about existence, it becomes obscured and loses its clarity. The speaker';s attempt to "recall it" implies a longing to return to a state of pure being, but the act of trying to remember inevitably changes the experience, making it elusive.

Robert Creeley';s "Edge" is a meditation on the boundaries of existence, the difficulty of understanding oneself, and the struggle to find meaning in a constantly shifting reality. Through vivid imagery and fragmented structure, the poem captures the tension between being and thinking, the elusive nature of identity, and the sense of standing at the threshold of understanding without ever fully crossing it. Ultimately, "Edge" speaks to the human experience of grappling with the limits of perception and the desire to find a stable place within the complexity of existence.

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