Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Durrell's poem "To Argos" is a meditation on the intertwining of history, myth, and the human experience within the landscape of Argos, a region steeped in ancient Greek lore. The poem explores the tension between the past and the present, the sacred and the mundane, and the profound sense of loss that accompanies the realization that modern life often fails to connect with the deep cultural and spiritual heritage of the land.

The poem begins with a vivid description of the roads leading southward "along a circumference of snow," an image that evokes both the physical journey and the cyclical nature of time and history. The roads are "blue," a color often associated with tranquility and depth, yet here it might also suggest coldness or distance. These roads are identified by scholars as leading to places of mythic significance—a "home for the cyclops, a habitation / For nymphs and ancient appearances." This suggests that Argos, and by extension Greece, is a land where the boundaries between the mythical and the real are blurred, where the landscape itself is imbued with stories and legends.

The figure of the shepherd, "in his cowl," becomes a central symbol in the poem. Unlike the scholars, who can only interpret the past from a distance, the shepherd "really knows / The natural history in a sacred place." His knowledge is intuitive and direct, derived from his lived experience within the landscape. The shepherd "takes like a text of stone / A familiar cloud-shape or fortress," reading the land as one would read an ancient manuscript, pointing out what is "mutually seen," a shared recognition of the sacred and the historical in the environment. The reference to his "dark eyes wearing the crowsfoot" suggests wisdom earned through age and experience, a deep connection to the land that transcends academic understanding.

Durrell then shifts to a more reflective tone, lamenting how "our idols have been betrayed." This betrayal is not by the dead, who "lie awake but do not judge," but by the passage of time and the erosion of the cultural and spiritual connections that once held these figures in reverence. The image of "winter rub[bing] at the ice like a hair" serves as a metaphor for time's relentless wear, dividing eras and eroding the once-clear distinctions between the sacred and the profane. The "single tree" reflecting a "mythical river" and the water that "limps on ice, or scribbles / On doors of sand its syllables" further emphasize the sense of decay and loss, as the natural world struggles to retain its ancient significance in a land now "empty" and "alone."

Durrell’s reference to Virgil and the "scarlet pompion" suggests the persistence of cultural memory, where the blood of the poet is said to "grow again" in the land. Yet, despite this persistence, the poet acknowledges the difficulty of truly connecting with the ancient past. In Argos, one constantly encounters "Agamemnon," a figure from Greek mythology whose presence is as enduring as the landscape itself. The voice of water, the hammer on stone, and the name of Agamemnon are held close "in the circles / Of bald granite," a metaphor for the way these ancient stories are preserved in the very rocks of the land, yet remain distant from the lived experience of modern visitors.

The poem takes a more somber turn as Durrell reflects on the modern world’s disconnection from this ancient heritage. The "assurance of visitors in rugs"—a reference to the comfortable detachment of tourists—contrasts sharply with the spiritual and historical depth of the land. The line "Our true parenthood rests with the eagle" suggests a kinship with the natural world, symbolized by the eagle, which turns "over his vaults" in the sky, observing all from above. This detachment from the land and its history is further emphasized by the image of "modern girls pose on a tomb smiling," a stark contrast between the trivialization of the past and the enduring weight of history.

The poem’s final lines express a deep sense of loss and disillusionment. The "hyssop and the vinegar," symbols of ancient rituals and suffering, have "lost their meaning," reflecting the erosion of cultural and spiritual significance in the modern world. This loss is "what breaks the heart," as Durrell mourns the fading connection to a world where the sacred and the mythical once infused the landscape with meaning and purpose.

In "To Argos," Durrell captures the profound tension between the ancient and the modern, the sacred and the mundane, and the struggle to maintain a meaningful connection to a cultural heritage that is increasingly distant. Through his rich and evocative imagery, he explores the sense of dislocation and loss that comes with the recognition that the modern world, with its rationality and detachment, often fails to engage with the deeper, spiritual dimensions of the land and its history. The poem is both a lament for what has been lost and a meditation on the enduring presence of the past, even as it fades into the background of contemporary life.

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