Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Poggio" presents a vivid and satirical portrayal of a character who is simultaneously a buffoon and a figure of tragic depth. Through the use of grotesque and comedic imagery, Durrell explores the duality of this figure—a man who hides his artistic aspirations and deep-seated fears behind a facade of humor and absurdity. The poem delves into themes of identity, the struggle for creative expression, and the tension between one's public persona and inner life.

The poem begins with a strikingly absurd image: "The rubber penis, the wig, the false breasts." These objects, often associated with slapstick comedy and crude humor, set the tone for the depiction of Poggio as a clownish figure. Durrell describes Poggio's talent for making an entrance "backwards / Upon a roar of laughter," suggesting that his identity is built on the spectacle of his own ridiculousness. The image of him wheeling before him "that mythological great hippo's bum" furthers the caricature, painting Poggio as someone who thrives on the exaggerated and the grotesque.

Poggio's appearance is similarly absurd: "The white face, / Comical, flat, and hairless as a cheese," with a "Nose like a member." This description reinforces the idea of Poggio as a figure of mockery, his features exaggerated to the point of being almost cartoonish. The comparison of his nose to a "Tuscan fig, a leather can, or else, / A phallus made of putty and slapped on" continues the theme of distortion, portraying Poggio as a walking joke, an embodiment of crude humor and physical absurdity.

However, beneath this buffoonery lies a more complex and tragic figure. Durrell hints at Poggio's deeper fears and insecurities: "How should you know that behind / All this the old buffoon concealed a fear — / And reasonable enough — that he might be / An artist after all?" This line reveals that Poggio harbors a fear of his own potential, the possibility that he could be more than just a clown, that he might actually possess the soul of an artist. The irony is that this fear, rather than liberating him, keeps him trapped in his role as a buffoon.

Durrell portrays Poggio as a man who, despite his public persona, yearns for artistic fulfillment. After his evenings of crude entertainment, he "sitting there / On a three-legged stool and writing, he / Hoped poems might form upon the paper." But instead of poetry, what emerges are "Dirty stories"—tales of debauchery and vulgarity that reflect the lowbrow humor he performs. The "crapula" that "clung to him for many years" symbolizes the burden of this crude content, which Poggio sweats over "like a ham unhung," suggesting both the physical toil and the metaphorical weight of his creative frustrations.

Durrell extends the portrayal of Poggio's inner conflict by acknowledging his yearning for something more profound: "And like the rest of us hoped for / The transfigured story or the mantic line / Of poetry free from this mortuary smell." Here, Poggio is likened to any other artist or writer who hopes to transcend their limitations and create something truly meaningful, something that rises above the vulgarity and emptiness of everyday life. The "mortuary smell" represents the decay and stagnation of his creative output, a reminder of the mortality and futility that haunt his efforts.

The poem also touches on Poggio's personal life, noting that he "slept badly — who does not? / Took bribes, and drugs, ate far too much and dreamed. / Married unwisely, yes, but died quite well." These lines encapsulate the common human failings that Poggio shares with others, emphasizing his ordinariness despite his extraordinary public persona. His bad habits, unwise decisions, and troubled dreams paint a picture of a man struggling with the same anxieties and imperfections as anyone else. The final note, that he "died quite well," suggests a certain dignity or redemption in his death, a conclusion that perhaps belies the chaos and absurdity of his life.

In "Poggio," Durrell masterfully balances humor and tragedy, creating a character who is at once ridiculous and deeply human. Through Poggio, Durrell explores the conflict between one's public identity and inner aspirations, the fear of artistic failure, and the longing for something more meaningful in life. The poem captures the pathos of a man who, despite his outward buffoonery, is haunted by the unfulfilled potential of his own creativity, making him a poignant symbol of the struggle to reconcile the demands of life with the desire for artistic expression.

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