Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "Poet" presents a vivid and complex meditation on the process of creation, the struggles inherent in the life of a poet, and the metaphysical forces that shape both the artist and their work. Through rich imagery and mythological references, Durrell explores the poet's journey from conception to the emergence of their voice, underscoring the hardships, transformations, and ultimate mystery of artistic expression.

The poem begins with a metaphorical statement: "Time marched against my egg, / But Saturn hatched it." Here, time is depicted as an adversarial force, suggesting that the passage of time itself opposes the poet's existence or development. However, the poet's birth—or creative emergence—is facilitated by Saturn, a figure often associated with time, agriculture, and the harsh realities of existence. This juxtaposition hints at the idea that the very forces that seem to constrain the poet are also responsible for bringing them into being.

The description "Furnished two rusty claws, / The antelope's logic" adds to the complexity of the poet's nature. The "rusty claws" evoke an image of something old, worn, and potentially dangerous, while "the antelope's logic"   suggests a kind of graceful, yet instinctual reasoning. This combination of the predatory and the delicate reflects the dualities that poets often embody—the capacity for both creation and destruction, for beauty and savagery.

Durrell then introduces a lunar and seasonal motif: "While by the turtle's coma in summer / The new moon watched it." The turtle, a symbol of longevity and patience, is in a state of dormancy during the summer, while the new moon, often associated with new beginnings and the passage of time, observes. This suggests a period of gestation or incubation for the poet, watched over by the celestial rhythms that govern life and growth.

The next stanza, "Four seasons conspired / To poison my water: with scissors / A late spring lanced the bud," implies that the poet's development is fraught with challenges and opposition. The four seasons, representing the cyclical nature of time, actively "conspire" to hinder the poet's growth, with spring—usually a time of renewal—"lancing the bud," a violent image that suggests a premature or thwarted blossoming.

The reference to "dragon's blood" in the line "Lulled me in dragon's blood" adds a mythical element, perhaps alluding to the idea of being steeped in power, danger, or ancient forces, which both protect and curse the poet. The sun, traditionally a life-giving force, instead "withered this crucible head," implying that even the sources of energy and inspiration can have destructive effects on the poet.

Durrell continues with the imagery of creation and birth in the line "Nine moons heard of my coming, / The drumming of mythical horses / On the walls of the womb." The "nine moons" likely refer to the traditional period of gestation, with the "mythical horses" adding a sense of epic anticipation, as though the poet's arrival is both awaited and heralded by forces beyond the ordinary.

The final stanza, "Winter buried the eyes like talents. / Tightened the temple's bony ring, / And now the pie is opened, / Feathered the head of the owlet — / What shall the monster sing?" encapsulates the emergence of the poet and the question of what their voice will express. Winter, often a symbol of death or dormancy, "buried the eyes like talents," suggesting that the poet's vision or potential has been hidden or suppressed. The phrase "tightened the temple's bony ring" could imply a constriction or focus of thought, as if the mind is being prepared or shaped for its task.

The image of "the pie... opened" and the "feathered... head of the owlet" brings to mind a transformation or revelation, where something previously concealed is now revealed. The owlet, a symbol of wisdom and, in some traditions, a harbinger of death, represents the poet's newly hatched potential. The poem closes with the question: "What shall the monster sing?" This query is loaded with ambiguity—referring to the poet as a "monster" suggests a powerful, perhaps unsettling presence, and the focus on what the poet will "sing" raises the question of the content and nature of their expression.

"Poet" by Lawrence Durrell is a profound reflection on the challenges and transformations inherent in the creative process. Through its rich, layered imagery and mythological allusions, the poem explores the birth of the poet's voice, the trials that shape it, and the ultimate mystery of what that voice will convey. It suggests that the journey of a poet is one marked by both internal and external struggles, but also by a profound and inevitable emergence into a world where their words will have a lasting impact.

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