Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Logos" delves into the profound and often paradoxical relationship between spiritual seeking, the nature of prophecy, and the human condition. Through a blend of religious imagery, metaphysical reflection, and an exploration of gender dynamics, the poem explores the complexities of existence and the pursuit of divine understanding.

The poem opens with the phrase "Thy kingdom come," a line from the Lord's Prayer, which immediately places the reader in a spiritual or religious context. However, Durrell subverts the expected sanctity of the phrase by suggesting that "the prophet / In private house lies with his myth," implying a more personal, perhaps flawed, experience of divine revelation. The prophet is not in a grand temple or public space but in a private, intimate setting, where his myth—his personal understanding or creation of truth—lies with him. This myth, however, is tinged with doubt or corruption, as it "poison[s] his beatitude," suggesting that the very nature of his revelation might undermine his blessedness or peace.

The next lines, "Onlie begetter, shining one / We travel a same rare latitude," seem to address a divine or transcendent force. The "Onlie begetter" could be interpreted as a reference to God or the Logos (the Word), the source of creation and truth. The speaker acknowledges a shared journey with this divine entity, a journey that takes them to "fringe the Arctic Circle of the Word." The Arctic Circle, a place of extreme conditions and stark beauty, serves as a metaphor for the boundaries of human understanding and the cold, unyielding nature of absolute truth. The travelers carry "no compass, flag to plant, but bone," suggesting that they are guided not by traditional tools of navigation or conquest but by the very essence of their being—their mortality and humanity, symbolized by "bone."

"The ageless humour of the skeleton" introduces a sense of irony or dark humor in the face of death and the skeletal remains that represent it. The skeleton, ageless and universal, serves as a reminder of the inevitable end that awaits all, yet there is a certain "humour" in its persistence, a resilience that outlasts flesh and myth alike.

Durrell continues to explore the tension between myth and reality, grace and absolute truth, with the line "His myth is grace: no less our absolute." Here, myth is equated with grace, a gift that provides meaning and redemption, yet it is also described as "absolute," suggesting that it holds a fundamental, unchangeable power over human existence. The juxtaposition of "Locust and honey, scrip and wallet" contrasts the simplicity and austerity of spiritual life with the material concerns that often accompany it. The reference to locusts and honey echoes the diet of John the Baptist, symbolizing a return to nature and simplicity, while "scrip and wallet" represent the practical necessities of life.

The poem then shifts focus to the figure of a woman, described as "a wilderness enough for body / To wander in," likening her to both a Genesis and an exodus—a beginning and an end, a creation and a departure. This metaphor suggests that woman embodies the full spectrum of human experience, from birth to death, and serves as a powerful, encompassing force in the life of the body and soul.

The final lines, "She the last crucifixion on the Word. / We press on her as Roman on his sword," bring the poem to a stark conclusion. The woman is likened to the "last crucifixion," a final, ultimate sacrifice or burden placed upon the Word (Logos). The image of "pressing on her as Roman on his sword" evokes the act of suicide by falling on one's sword, a grim and deliberate choice that speaks to the weight of responsibility and the inevitability of fate. In this context, the woman becomes the site of ultimate struggle, the crucible in which the tensions between myth, truth, and human experience are resolved—or left unresolved.

"Logos" is a complex exploration of the intersections between divine truth, human myth-making, and the existential realities of life and death. Durrell uses rich, layered imagery to probe the ways in which we seek meaning and understanding, often through the lens of religious and gendered experiences. The poem challenges the reader to consider the limits of human knowledge and the profound, often painful, realities that lie beyond the comforting myths we create.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...