Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Rocks on a Platter, Sels." by Barbara Guest is a complex and nuanced poem that delves into themes of perception, art, and the transient nature of experience. The poem begins with a quotation from Adorno's "Aesthetic Theory," which sets the stage for the exploration of limits and boundaries in both art and thought. Adorno's assertion that "The moment a limit is posited / It is overstepped" suggests a dynamic tension between constraints and freedom, a theme that Guest weaves throughout the poem.

The poem opens with a scene of informality, where the speaker reflects on the "gesture of allowing oneself time." This line emphasizes the importance of patience and contemplation in experiencing and creating art. The phrase "how starry it arrives the hope of another idiom" evokes a sense of wonder and anticipation, as if a new language or form of expression is about to emerge. The "blush of inexactitude" and "furor" suggest the passionate and often chaotic process of artistic creation, which ultimately returns to the creator as "flotsam blocked out." This imagery of flotsam, or debris, hints at the remnants of inspiration and creativity that linger after the initial fervor has passed.

Guest's reference to Schoenberg, a composer known for his atonal music, further underscores the poem's exploration of art and composition. The directive to "compose, like Schoenberg, poem music / 'robustly'" suggests an approach to poetry that embraces complexity and dissonance. The "flotsam of the world of appearances" drifting by and out of the picture implies that these ephemeral and transient elements are integral to the creative process. The disappearance of the throne, a symbol of authority and permanence, signifies the fluid and ever-changing nature of artistic expression.

In the section titled "NAMING," Guest plays with the concept of naming and its power to define and limit. By naming the throne "flotsam of appearances," the poem challenges the notion of fixed identities and boundaries. The act of "allowing time" emphasizes the importance of temporality and the fluidity of experience. The poem questions whether evanescence, the quality of being fleeting or vanishing, is akin to a "wool beggar" or a simpleton. This line suggests a tension between the ephemeral nature of art and the desire for permanence and stability.

The poem's playful language and use of the word "Bafflement" point to the inherent difficulty in capturing and understanding art. The repetition of "TheeGLOSSGLOSS" and the instruction to "point to the Mix" create a sense of layering and multiplicity, as if the poem itself is a collage of different thoughts and images. The final lines, "there! It slides into view / the Dolphin. / before the moment oversteps, / into / the hum pour his ivory," evoke a sense of revelation and transformation. The appearance of the dolphin, a symbol often associated with playfulness and intelligence, suggests a moment of clarity or insight that emerges from the chaotic mix of ideas.

"Rocks on a Platter, Sels." is a meditation on the interplay between form and formlessness, permanence and transience, in the creation and experience of art. Guest's use of fragmented and layered imagery mirrors the complexity of artistic expression, inviting readers to engage with the poem on multiple levels. The poem's exploration of boundaries and limits, and the ways in which they are constantly negotiated and redefined, reflects the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of both art and life.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...