Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell’s poem "External Contemporaries, Six Portraits: Mark of Patmos" presents a reflective meditation on transformation, memory, and the passage of time. The poem uses the figure of Mark, presumably a symbolic or fictional character, to explore themes of personal growth, the impact of departure, and the communal experience of loss.

The poem begins with a stark image: "Mark has crossed over to Mount Olivet, / Putting aside the banneret and the drum." Mount Olivet, or the Mount of Olives, is a place with deep biblical significance, often associated with contemplation, prophecy, and spiritual ascension. By choosing to "cross over" to this place, Mark symbolically abandons the trappings of worldly life—represented by the "banneret and the drum," symbols of war, celebration, or public life—and enters a phase of inner reflection. This crossing over signifies a transition from the external to the internal, from action to contemplation.

Durrell continues by describing Mark's new state of being: "He inhabits now that part of himself / Which lay formerly desolate and uncolonized." This suggests that Mark is turning inward, exploring parts of his psyche or soul that had previously been neglected or untouched by external influences. The use of "desolate and uncolonized" evokes a sense of a barren, unexplored territory within oneself—a part of the self that has been isolated from the demands and distractions of the outer world.

The poem then shifts to Mark’s purpose: "He works that what is to pass may come / And the birth of the common heart he realized." Here, Durrell suggests that Mark’s inward journey is not an escape but a preparation for something significant. Mark is working towards the realization of "the common heart," perhaps symbolizing a deeper understanding or connection with humanity, an awakening of shared consciousness or empathy. This phrase implies that through his solitude and introspection, Mark is contributing to a greater communal or spiritual awakening.

The poem’s tone shifts when it asks, "What passed with him?" This question prompts a reflection on what Mark leaves behind, what has been lost or changed with his departure. The answer is subtle and poignant: "A flower dropped / In the boat by a friend, the cakes / His sister brought with the unposted letter." These small, intimate details emphasize the personal connections that Mark leaves behind—gestures of affection and care that remain unfinished or unresolved. The "unposted letter" symbolizes unexpressed feelings or uncompleted communication, adding a layer of melancholy to the poem.

The reaction of the "island loafers" to Mark’s departure is also significant. They watch "the red sails melt into the sky, distended," a vivid image of departure that conveys both beauty and finality. The sails "melting" into the sky suggest a dissolution, a fading away, and the word "distended" adds a sense of unnatural or strained departure. The islanders are "disturbed," but not because they feel that something momentous is beginning. Instead, they turn "angrily to [their] lighted house," reacting with frustration or perhaps denial to the change that Mark’s departure signifies.

The final lines of the poem carry a profound sense of loss: the islanders feel "not that something momentous / Had begun, but that their common childhood / Had foundered in the Syrian seas and ended." Here, Durrell captures the essence of what is lost with Mark’s departure—a shared past, a collective memory of innocence and youth. The phrase "foundered in the Syrian seas" evokes a sense of something sinking, a shipwreck of sorts, symbolizing the end of an era or a phase of life. The "Syrian seas" might represent the vast, indifferent forces of time and change, which engulf and erase the simplicity of childhood.

In "External Contemporaries, Six Portraits: Mark of Patmos," Durrell weaves a narrative of personal transformation and communal loss. Through the figure of Mark, he explores the tension between the inner journey and the external world, highlighting how individual change can disrupt and alter collective memories and experiences. The poem is rich with symbolism, using simple, evocative images to convey the complexity of human emotion and the inevitable passage of time. Durrell’s exploration of the interplay between solitude and community, past and future, creates a poignant reflection on the nature of growth and the bittersweet realization that with every step forward, something is inevitably left behind.

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