Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Forrest Gander’s poem "Eggplants and Lotus Root: Close to Water Geometric Losses" employs fragmented and vivid imagery to explore themes of intimacy, bodily functions, and the human condition. Through a series of disjointed yet evocative scenes, Gander invites readers to engage with the poem’s raw and visceral elements, weaving a tapestry of sensations and emotions that challenge conventional syntax and meaning.

The poem opens with an enigmatic line: "some form retains. Hair at aureole. I of. Sperm." This fragmentary statement sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the disintegration and reassembly of form and meaning. The mention of "Hair at aureole" and "Sperm" brings attention to bodily details and functions, suggesting a focus on the physical and the biological.

Gander continues with a more explicit scene: "She wipes her cleavage. How would you sit full of news on my lap, facing." This image of a woman wiping her cleavage juxtaposed with the idea of sitting on someone's lap conveys a mixture of sensuality and intimacy. The phrase "full of news" implies a moment of shared communication or revelation, hinting at the potential for emotional or intellectual exchange.

The poem then shifts to a more ominous tone: "Guillotines raised over dark eyes. Crossed a bare common. We, surrounded by neglect." The imagery of guillotines and dark eyes introduces a sense of impending danger or judgment, while "crossed a bare common" evokes a sense of vulnerability and exposure. The notion of being "surrounded by neglect" highlights the theme of abandonment and isolation.

Gander’s use of contrasting scenes continues with: "Or drunk, the bridgelights watery, bridgelights sputtering in the river's mouth." This line captures the disorienting effects of intoxication and the distortion of perception. The "bridgelights watery" and "sputtering" create a visual metaphor for instability and uncertainty, emphasizing the transient and precarious nature of the scene.

The poem then delves into more intimate and bodily imagery: "Curious syntaxes as intimate. Menstrual flow, the moon from Guanajuato, the pock-faced dead clutching their genitals, gaping." Here, Gander blends linguistic playfulness with stark physicality. "Curious syntaxes as intimate" suggests that the structure of language itself can be as revealing and personal as physical experiences. The mention of "Menstrual flow" and "the moon from Guanajuato" ties natural cycles to specific places, grounding the abstract in the tangible. The image of the "pock-faced dead clutching their genitals, gaping" introduces a macabre element, confronting the reader with the raw realities of mortality and decay.

The final line, "To mean anything," serves as a poignant and open-ended conclusion. This statement questions the purpose and significance of the preceding images and scenes, inviting the reader to ponder the meaning—or lack thereof—within the chaotic and fragmented narrative.

"Eggplants and Lotus Root: Close to Water Geometric Losses" is a challenging and evocative poem that defies conventional narrative structures. Through its fragmented syntax and vivid imagery, Forrest Gander captures the complexities of human experience, from the intimate to the existential. The poem’s disjointed scenes and visceral details encourage readers to engage with the text on multiple levels, exploring the intersections of language, body, and meaning in a world marked by both beauty and decay.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Science_Steepleflower/miMM0TaaSOMC?hl=en&gbpv=1

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