Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Outlaw" by William Everson is a powerful meditation on the themes of fate, tradition, and the inevitable progression towards the future, using the figure of an outlaw as a metaphor for broader human experiences and existential dilemmas. Through the narrative of a man who lives outside the law, Everson explores the complexities of human behavior, the consequences of actions, and the weight of history and tradition on individual destiny.

The poem opens with the vivid image of a "violent man" who, driven by perceived injustices, becomes entangled in a cycle of violence and retribution. His decision to "wade the north," to flee into the wild or towards unknown territories, marks a desperate attempt to escape the repercussions of his actions. However, Everson points out the futility of such an escape, as "the subtle strands of communication" – perhaps rumors, gossip, or the law itself – inevitably track him down, ticking towards his doom like a time bomb.

The moment of reckoning comes when the outlaw, "cornered at last," faces his pursuers in the night. Everson uses the imagery of a magnet to describe the fatal attraction between the man and the "metal loosed in the acrid air," suggesting that his downfall was not just a result of external forces but also an inward pull towards his fate. The outlaw's death is portrayed as both inevitable and tragic, a consequence of his actions and the invisible forces that govern human lives.

Everson then shifts the focus from the individual story of the outlaw to a broader reflection on the nature of change and tradition. The outlaw's story is a manifestation of a larger pattern of human behavior, where individuals and societies cling to outdated ways of being, unaware of the "enormous forest of the waiting world." The "trees of tradition" obscure their vision, preventing them from seeing the possibilities of change and progression.

The poem concludes with a direct address to the reader, suggesting that we, too, are like the outlaw in our rooms, "bound in our patterns," and facing the "massed future" with fear and resistance. Everson suggests that in our adherence to "vestigial usages grooving our lives," we draw doom upon ourselves, not through our actions alone but through our unwillingness to adapt and embrace the unknown.

"Outlaw" is a profound exploration of human resistance to change, the inevitability of progress, and the tragic consequences of being trapped by one's own actions and the suffocating grip of tradition. Everson's use of the outlaw as a metaphor invites readers to reflect on their own lives, the societal norms that constrain us, and the potential for liberation in facing the future with openness rather than fear.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Residual_Years/JeBX8LZrdr8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22They+came+out+of+the+sun+undetected%22by+WILLIAM+EVERSON&pg=PA120&printsec=frontcover

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