Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Prayer to the Mothers" by Diane Di Prima is a deeply evocative and spiritually charged poem that invokes the ancient, enduring presence of the divine feminine. Through rich imagery and a tone of reverence mixed with urgency, Di Prima calls upon the primordial forces embodied by the "Mothers" to intervene in the modern world's crises. The poem oscillates between the mystical and the tangible, the ancient and the contemporary, creating a powerful plea for guidance, healing, and protection.

The poem opens with a sense of mystery and timelessness, suggesting that the Mothers, divine or ancestral feminine forces, persist in the world, hidden yet omnipresent. Their dwelling in "the depths of the earth" or "on some sacred mountain" evokes a connection to nature and ancient sanctuaries, places where the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds is thin. The Mothers' actions—writing signs, warning, weaving the shape of deliverance—portray them as guardians of humanity, actively involved in guiding and protecting their children.

Di Prima describes the Mothers with a series of vivid, contrasting images: they heal with the "holy glow" of their dark eyes, unveil a green face in the jungle, and wear blue in the snows. These depictions highlight the Mothers' omnipresence and versatility, their embodiment of nature's power, and their role in key human experiences, from birth to death. The mention of the Mothers dancing on the dead and embracing human weariness underscores their intimate connection to the cycles of life and death, joy and suffering.

The repetition of "warn warn & weave" emphasizes the Mothers' dual role as prophets and protectors, their work to craft a hopeful future even as they caution against present dangers. The imagery of stepping among cups and stepping out of crystal suggests a careful, deliberate navigation of the world's complexities and perils.

Di Prima's invocation takes on an apocalyptic tone with the plea for the Mothers to "rain poison upon us, acid which eats clean." This striking request seeks a radical cleansing, a desperate measure to awaken humanity from its destructive path, akin to a child being startled awake from a nightmare. The "devourers" and "metal men" symbolize the dehumanizing forces of industrialization, environmental degradation, and soulless technological advancement that threaten the essence of life itself.

The poem's language and structure create a rhythm and intensity that convey both the gravity of the call and the profound reverence for the Mothers. Di Prima's use of direct address, combined with the lyrical quality of her verse, serves to both summon the Mothers and to remind the reader of the deep, often neglected connections that bind humanity to the natural world and to the ancestral forces that have guided it through ages.

"Prayer to the Mothers" is a powerful articulation of hope and a call to action. It urges a return to a more harmonious and respectful relationship with the earth, with each other, and with the ancient wisdom embodied by the Mothers. Di Prima's poem is not only a prayer for intervention but a reminder of the deep well of strength, healing, and guidance that lies in reconnecting with the divine feminine, with the primal forces that have sustained humanity through its darkest times. Through this invocation, the poet seeks to reawaken a collective consciousness of reverence, interdependence, and care, essentials that are desperately needed to navigate the challenges of the modern world.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/From_the_Margin/zZx6_1-e1kkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=PRAYER%20TO%20THE%20MOTHERS

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