Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Encounter" by Annie Finch is a richly metaphorical poem that explores the fleeting yet profound connection between two individuals amidst the anonymity of a public space—in this case, a bus. Using the extended metaphor of birds in flight, Finch captures the essence of human connection, its transient nature, and the deep impact such encounters can have on our sense of self and our understanding of our place in the world.

The poem begins in a bus, a setting typically associated with routine and anonymity, where "strange eyes are believed to burn down into separate depths." This initial image sets a tone of isolation and introspection, suggesting that each passenger is immersed in their own deep, personal world. However, this separateness is disrupted when the speaker's eyes meet another's, and their gaze "mingled, lured out of the crowd like wings." The use of "wings" here is significant, as it introduces the central metaphor of flight, which symbolizes freedom, escape, and transcendence from the mundane.

As their eyes meet, there is an immediate transformation. The individuals, previously part of the crowd, now "brushed past the others and rose." This rising is both literal, as they stand up, and metaphorical, indicating a lifting of their spirits and a departure from their former, grounded selves. They begin to learn "flight," initially "single as wings," which suggests that each maintains their individuality in this ascent. Yet, as they continue to interact, they discover that they can "merge with a turn," eventually forming "one bird, focussed, attentive." This merging represents a profound connection, a moment of unity that transcends individuality without erasing it.

The sensory experience of this flight is vividly described: they hear "the air past our feathers, the wind through our feet," and even the mundane sound of "the churn of wheels in the dark." These descriptions intensify the reality of their imagined flight, blurring the lines between the literal and the metaphorical, between the physical bus journey and their emotional, transformative experience.

However, the poem also acknowledges the ephemeral nature of such encounters. "Now we have settled," indicates a return to normalcy and the end of the transcendent experience. They remain "two balanced creatures," suggesting a return to individuality but retaining the equilibrium they found in their shared moment. The speaker reflects on the nature of this connection as both "lost" and "incarnate love," highlighting its fleeting presence and its profound, almost tangible impact on their lives.

In the closing lines, the poem touches on the paradox of human connection: "turning away, we will land, growing more wild with solitude, more alone, than we could have known." This return to solitude is not merely a return to the state before their encounter but is marked by a greater awareness of their aloneness—a solitude made more poignant by the intense connection they briefly shared.

Through "Encounter," Annie Finch invites readers to contemplate the profound yet transient connections we make with others, the way these moments lift us out of our everyday experiences, and how they ultimately shape our understanding of ourselves and our loneliness. The poem is a meditation on the beauty and the sorrow of human relationships, captured in the fleeting moment of a shared gaze that feels like flight.

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