Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell’s poem "External Contemporaries, Six Portraits: Panagiotis of Lindos" paints a vivid portrait of a man who has chosen a life of simplicity and detachment from the hustle of the world, finding solace and meaning in the quiet pleasures of nature and contemplation. Through its rich imagery and reflective tone, the poem explores themes of resignation, the passage of time, and the contentment found in a life stripped of ambition and complexity.

The poem opens with a comparison between "dark birds in nature" and "weaving fishermen," establishing a connection between the natural world and the human figures who inhabit it. The birds "redevise / Their linings every year," symbolizing renewal and adaptation, while the fishermen, "Bent so exactly at their tattered seines / On a rotten wharf," embody a more static, enduring presence, deeply embedded in their environment. Despite their tattered conditions, these fishermen are likened to the birds, suggesting that their work, though repetitive and physically taxing, is as natural and necessary as the birds' seasonal renewal. The "molten catch / Now sold and loaded" emphasizes the transitory nature of their labor—what is caught and sold today will need to be caught again tomorrow, in a continuous cycle of toil.

Panagiotis, however, has "resigned it all," stepping away from this cycle. His choice is symbolized by "an enamel can and olive shade," simple objects that represent a life of minimalism and tranquility. The "tavern prospect" and "Miles of sweet chestnut and borage" paint a picture of a man who has exchanged the demands of labor for the serenity of rural life, finding beauty and satisfaction in the natural world around him.

The poem then delves into Panagiotis's current life, where "This armament of wine he shares now / With the greatest philosopher, the least / Inventor, the meanest doctrine of rest." The "armament of wine" suggests that Panagiotis approaches life with the same seriousness and ritual that others might approach war or intellectual pursuits. However, his "battle" is one of finding peace and contentment, mixing "leisure and repose like wine and water," blending relaxation with contemplation in a harmonious balance. The image of the "crater" as a place of learning, where "Tutor and pupil" meet, implies that Panagiotis has found wisdom in simplicity, where the complexities of life are distilled into basic, enduring truths.

Panagiotis's sleep is described as "bruised by each / Sink of the sun below the castle," a metaphor for the daily reminders of the passage of time and the inescapable presence of history. The castle, a symbol of past grandeur and power, contrasts with Panagiotis's current life of quiet retreat. The "Sporades" islands, "opened / Their spokes," and the "whole Aegean" sea, which "In brilliant soda turns the darkening bays," evoke a vast, luminous world that Panagiotis witnesses each day—a world that continues to change and renew itself, even as he remains in his chosen place of rest.

In "Panagiotis of Lindos," Durrell explores the idea of finding peace in resignation and simplicity. Panagiotis is depicted as a man who has turned away from the active, ambitious life to embrace a slower, more reflective existence. The poem suggests that there is wisdom in this choice, a wisdom that comes not from striving or achieving, but from accepting the rhythms of nature and the inevitability of time. Panagiotis's life, filled with small pleasures like wine, shade, and the beauty of the landscape, stands in stark contrast to the struggles and achievements that characterize the lives of others. Through Panagiotis, Durrell presents a meditation on the value of a life lived in harmony with the world, where the greatest achievements are not those of wealth or power, but of peace and understanding.

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