Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Messiah (Christmas Portions)" by Mark Doty is a vivid and reflective poem that intertwines the experience of a community choir performance of Handel's "Messiah" with a broader contemplation of beauty, art, and transcendence. Doty skillfully captures the scene and its participants with a keen eye for detail, layering the personal and the universal, the mundane and the sublime.

The poem begins with a picturesque description of the setting — a typical December afternoon with the sky painted in "colors of tarnish on copper." This image sets a scene that contrasts the ordinary with glimpses of the extraordinary. The mention of "two clouds propose a Zion of their own, blazing" immediately elevates the moment from the everyday to the mystical, setting the tone for the interplay between the celestial and the terrestrial that unfolds in the poem.

As the Choral Society gathers to perform, Doty introduces the singers in a manner that underscores their dual identities: they are both everyday townspeople and, for this performance, vessels of something greater. The choir members are described in familiar, almost affectionate terms, with references to their daily lives and personal quirks. This portrayal emphasizes the transformative power of art to elevate ordinary individuals into agents of beauty and grace.

The anticipation and skepticism of the audience are captured in the lines describing the silence in the hall as if "we’re all about to open a gift we’re not sure we’ll like." This anticipation transforms into awe as the performance begins, challenging the initial doubt with the sheer beauty of the music. Doty's description of the tenor, a familiar figure from the liquor store, and how the word "exalted" is expanded in his performance, illustrates how art can enlarge simple moments into experiences of profound beauty and significance.

The core of the poem lies in the contemplation of whether the beauty created by human artistry can be seen as evidence of a greater beauty behind the world. The music of the Messiah, particularly the chorus, is depicted as a force that both competes with and complements the natural beauty of the sunset, suggesting a harmony between human creativity and divine creation.

Doty suggests that the act of singing, the communal effort of the choir, transcends individual limitations. Even if not all soloists are perfect, their collective voice achieves a sublime expression that "equals my burning clouds, and seems itself to burn." This communal creation of beauty is a metaphor for the potential within each human to contribute to something larger than themselves.

The poem concludes with a philosophical reflection on the capacity of humans to desire and aspire. The choir's performance is an affirmation that "everything might flame; inside these wrappings burns another, brighter life, quickened, now, by song." This suggests that within the ordinary exteriors of life and routine, there exists potential for extraordinary beauty and transformation, accessible and ignited through art.

"Messiah (Christmas Portions)" is a deeply lyrical and contemplative piece that celebrates the power of music to transform, connect, and elevate, and it invites readers to consider the larger implications of beauty and art in revealing the sublime aspects of the human experience.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44142/messiah-christmas-portions

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...