Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Forrest Gander's poem "Eggplants and Lotus Root: Moon in the Afternoon Geometric Losses" delves into the themes of vulnerability, perception, and the subtle undercurrents of loss through a series of vivid and disjointed images. The poem's fragmented structure and rich sensory details create a tapestry of experiences that invite the reader to explore the nuances of human emotion and the ephemeral nature of existence.

The poem begins with a sense of harshness and deception: "harshed her. Lied she was thick-skinned as a gator." This line sets the tone for the exploration of vulnerability and the facades we often construct. The comparison to a gator, an animal known for its tough exterior, suggests a superficial strength that belies deeper sensitivities. The repetition of "lied" underscores the dissonance between appearance and reality.

The next lines, "One of which was. Too longish for the painter's. / Nor— and also sibilantly curved — a brush bristle," introduce a series of visual and tactile images that evoke the process of artistic creation and the imperfections inherent in it. The description of something being "too longish for the painter's" hints at the challenges of fitting reality into artistic representation. The mention of a "sibilantly curved" brush bristle further emphasizes the delicate and often unpredictable nature of artistic expression.

Gander continues with the image of an "Anaconda beneath thinly crusted water. Otherwise a merely enacted principle." This metaphor suggests a lurking danger or hidden complexity beneath a seemingly calm surface. The anaconda, a powerful and potentially deadly creature, represents the latent threats or profound truths that lie just out of sight. The phrase "merely enacted principle" implies that what is visible on the surface is just a superficial performance, not reflective of deeper realities.

The poem then shifts to a more intimate and physical description: "She left several hairs. Their curved flanks quivering, their necks like beaches, an unbearable pungence speaking." This imagery evokes a sense of presence and absence, as the left-behind hairs symbolize remnants of someone's existence. The comparison of their "curved flanks" to "beaches" suggests a landscape of memory and emotion, while the "unbearable pungence" speaks to the lingering impact of their presence. The sensory detail of smell adds a layer of immediacy and intensity to the memory.

The final lines, "But equally non-indicative of any direction shy of loss," conclude the poem on a note of ambiguity and melancholy. The remnants left behind, whether hairs or memories, do not point to a clear path or resolution. Instead, they signify a pervasive sense of loss, highlighting the theme of impermanence and the difficulty of finding meaning or direction in the wake of absence.

"Eggplants and Lotus Root: Moon in the Afternoon Geometric Losses" is a richly textured poem that uses fragmented imagery and sensory details to explore themes of vulnerability, perception, and loss. Forrest Gander's ability to weave together disparate images into a cohesive meditation on human experience invites readers to reflect on the transient nature of life and the lingering traces left by those who have impacted us. The poem's structure and language create a compelling and immersive reading experience, drawing attention to the often-overlooked details that shape our understanding of presence and absence.

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

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