Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Train Going By," Robert Creeley reflects on life’s journey and the elusive nature of purpose and knowledge. The poem’s simplicity and conversational tone capture the wistfulness and humility that come with age, as the speaker acknowledges the limits of understanding and the role of luck or fate in life’s direction. Through the metaphor of a train, Creeley explores themes of aspiration, disillusionment, and acceptance, creating a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the human quest for meaning.

The poem begins with a reflection on youthful ambition: “When I was a kid / I wanted to get educated / and to college go / to learn how to know.” This opening introduces the speaker’s initial desire for knowledge, a dream rooted in the belief that education could unlock the secrets of understanding. The phrasing, “to learn how to know,” reveals a childlike idealism, as if knowledge itself is a skill that one can master simply through formal education. This yearning to “know” suggests a search for clarity and certainty, a vision of adulthood as a time when one gains wisdom and insight.

However, the shift to the present—“Now old I’ve found / train going by / will take me along / but I still don’t know why”—introduces a sense of disillusionment. Despite the speaker’s education and life experience, the fundamental question of purpose remains unanswered. The “train going by” becomes a metaphor for the unstoppable forward momentum of life, carrying the speaker along without offering clear answers or destinations. The repetition of “don’t know why” emphasizes the speaker’s lingering confusion, suggesting that despite the accumulation of years and experiences, life’s ultimate meaning remains elusive.

The train itself is a powerful symbol in the poem. Traditionally, trains represent journeys, transitions, and the passage of time. In this context, the train embodies the relentless forward motion of life, a force that carries the speaker along regardless of their understanding or intentions. The fact that the train “will take me along” implies a lack of agency, as if life is something that happens to the speaker rather than something they actively shape. This image evokes the sense of being a passive passenger in one’s own journey, highlighting the inevitability of time’s progression and the mystery of existence.

Creeley continues to explore this theme with the lines, “Not just for money / not for love / not for anything thought / for nothing I’ve done.” Here, the speaker dismisses conventional motivations like wealth, love, or achievements, suggesting that these are not the reasons for the journey. This rejection of common goals and ambitions reflects a deeper existential questioning. The speaker realizes that life’s journey is not necessarily driven by any particular purpose or accomplishment; rather, it seems arbitrary, unconnected to personal desires or actions. This detachment from traditional motivations emphasizes the poem’s sense of ambiguity and reinforces the notion that life’s trajectory may be beyond human control or understanding.

The line “it’s got to be luck / keeps the world going round” introduces a note of resignation mixed with wonder. By attributing life’s continuity to “luck,” the speaker suggests a worldview where chance, rather than reason or destiny, governs existence. This perspective is both humbling and liberating, as it implies that the journey of life is not a reward or consequence of one’s actions but rather a random and unpredictable process. In this view, luck becomes the underlying force that propels both the world and the individual, a mysterious power that keeps “myself moving on.” This admission of luck reflects a kind of surrender, a recognition that life’s path may be shaped by forces outside one’s control.

In the final line, “on that train going by,” Creeley returns to the central metaphor, reinforcing the idea of life as a continuous, unexplainable journey. The repetition of the train imagery in the last line creates a circular structure, suggesting that life itself is a loop, constantly in motion yet without a clear origin or destination. The speaker remains on this train, moving forward without knowing where it leads or why it moves. This ending leaves the reader with a sense of open-endedness, echoing the speaker’s acceptance of life’s mysteries.

Overall, "Train Going By" is a meditation on the limits of knowledge and the acceptance of life’s inherent uncertainties. Creeley captures the progression from youthful ambition to mature resignation, highlighting the journey from a desire for understanding to an acknowledgment of life’s ambiguity. Through the train metaphor, the poem suggests that while life inevitably moves forward, the reasons for this movement may remain unknown. Creeley’s restrained language and reflective tone invite the reader to consider their own relationship with purpose and control, ultimately suggesting that perhaps it is enough simply to be carried along by life’s currents, even if the destination remains a mystery.

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