Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley’s poem "There (5)" delves into the chaotic and sometimes futile struggle of thought and language, capturing moments of frustration, disillusionment, and an almost resigned sense of failure. With its fragmented language and erratic rhythm, the poem reflects a state of mind that is unsettled, almost overwhelmed by the effort to make sense of experience. Creeley’s sparse phrasing and unconventional line breaks contribute to a jagged, disjointed feeling, mirroring the disarray of inner conflict and the limitations of insight when grappling with everyday discontent.

The opening line, "Seeming act / of thought’s / gagging," suggests a struggle with thought itself. The word "seeming" implies that what appears to be a conscious act may be illusory or insufficient, hinting at a lack of genuine clarity or control over one’s thoughts. The description of thought "gagging" evokes an image of mental suffocation, as if ideas or insights are being choked off before they can fully form. This phrase conveys a sense of frustration, as if the speaker is attempting to reach an understanding or articulate something important, only to be thwarted by the limitations of their own mind or language. The idea of gagging suggests that the act of thinking itself becomes almost oppressive, as if the effort to understand is causing more strain than clarity.

The next lines, "insight out / there’s spasmodic / patience," continue this theme of fragmented comprehension. "Insight out" could imply that any glimmer of understanding or clarity is fleeting and elusive, escaping the speaker’s grasp just as it begins to form. The phrase "spasmodic / patience" is particularly evocative, as it pairs two contradictory concepts: the uncontrolled, involuntary nature of "spasmodic" and the calm endurance implied by "patience." This suggests a state of mind where the speaker is caught between restlessness and resignation, trying to hold on to patience even as it flickers in and out. The phrase captures the tension between the desire for stability and the inevitable bursts of frustration that disrupt it, creating a sense of internal conflict that feels both exhausting and inescapable.

As the poem progresses, Creeley introduces a more concrete image: "a wreck / car’s hauled / now away." This line introduces a metaphor for the speaker’s mental or emotional state, likening it to a "wreck" being removed from the scene. The "wreck" may represent a broken or exhausted part of the self, something that has reached its limit and must now be discarded or left behind. The image of a car being "hauled / now away" evokes a sense of forced movement or removal, as if something vital is being taken out of the speaker’s control. This removal could symbolize an attempt to move on from past frustrations or failures, yet the mechanical, impersonal nature of the action suggests that this process is neither cathartic nor fully resolved.

"Another day’s / gone to hell" follows, capturing the speaker’s sense of disillusionment with the passing of time. This line reflects a bleak, resigned outlook, as if each day slips away without any real progress or satisfaction. The phrase "gone to hell" is colloquial yet loaded with meaning, conveying a sense of defeat and waste. The repetition of disappointment day after day suggests a cycle of frustration, where time itself becomes an enemy, slipping away without offering the fulfillment or clarity the speaker seeks.

The final lines, "you know like / hangs out," end the poem on a note of ambivalence and almost casual resignation. The informal phrasing, "you know like," reflects a sense of apathy, as if the speaker is shrugging off the frustration and letting go of any attempt to fully articulate their experience. The phrase "hangs out" adds to this tone, implying a sense of unresolved lingering, as if the speaker’s discontent simply "hangs" in the air, left unaddressed and unchallenged. This closing line captures the poem’s tone of resigned disarray, as if the speaker has accepted the futility of trying to make sense of their frustration and is now content to let it "hang out" without further struggle.

Structurally, "There" is disjointed, with abrupt line breaks and a lack of punctuation that creates a sense of free-flowing yet chaotic thought. Each phrase stands almost on its own, disconnected from a coherent narrative, reflecting the fragmented and scattered nature of the speaker’s mind. This structure mirrors the experience of inner turmoil and frustration, as if the thoughts themselves are fractured and incapable of forming a complete picture.

Through "There," Creeley presents a meditation on frustration, the passing of time, and the often futile struggle to achieve understanding or peace. The poem suggests that insight and patience are elusive, disrupted by moments of intense disillusionment and weariness. By juxtaposing images of mental struggle with concrete symbols of failure—a wrecked car, a day gone to hell—Creeley captures the relentlessness of frustration in daily life. The poem’s final note of ambivalence, its acceptance of unresolved discontent, speaks to a universal experience: the challenge of navigating disappointment and the resignation that often accompanies the search for meaning in the midst of life’s chaos.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...