Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Tessera" by Barbara Guest is a contemplative and evocative poem that weaves together themes of memory, inertia, and transformation through vivid imagery and lyrical language. The poem is structured in four distinct sections, each contributing to the overall meditation on the interplay between the past and present, and the journey from stasis to movement.

In the first section, Guest introduces the duality of "Sadness and felicity" as the ghosts of the past return, symbolized by a "striped Greek dress." This image suggests a connection to ancient history and culture, evoking the rich tapestry of human experience. The line "Tears go into the urn" invokes a sense of ritual and preservation, as if capturing and storing emotions in a tangible form. The brazier, heating up water, wine, and thistles, symbolizes the transformation and purification processes, hinting at the alchemical change from sorrow to joy, from past to present.

The second section presents a dialogue with Inertia, personified as a beautiful yet obstructive presence. Inertia, described as "fragrant, violet," embodies a seductive but ultimately paralyzing force. The speaker's command for Inertia to "go away" reflects a desire to break free from the constraints of inaction and stagnation. This section highlights the struggle to move beyond the weight of letters, diaries, and words that link the speaker to sleep—a metaphor for a state of dormancy or inactivity.

In the third section, the setting shifts to the dark quarries, a place of extraction and labor. The imagery of hiring a truck to load up boxes, images, and "material medica" suggests a physical and emotional relocation, an effort to move and transport the essence of the past to a new place. The arrival of the driver and the loading of the truck signify the beginning of this journey. The reference to the "land of sunbeams and silk oak" contrasts with the darkness of the quarries, symbolizing a move towards light and renewal. However, the weight of the "initials" implies that the legacy of the past still bears a heavy load.

The fourth section returns to the motifs of ghosts, stripes, and thistles, reinforcing the themes of memory and persistence. The quote, "I wish I were quieter," said at Thebes, underscores a longing for peace amidst the echoes of legends and the incessant buzz of armadillos or bees. These creatures, representing industry and resilience, add layers to the poem's exploration of time and change.

Guest's use of fragmented, almost disjointed imagery, and lyrical language creates a mosaic-like structure, much like a tessera—the small, individual pieces of a mosaic. Each section of the poem can be seen as a tessera, contributing to the overall picture of a journey through memory, struggle, and transformation. The poem's fragmented nature mirrors the complexity of human experience, where emotions and memories are not linear but interwoven in intricate patterns.

In "Tessera," Barbara Guest captures the tension between inertia and movement, past and present, through a richly textured and evocative meditation. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of transformation, the ghosts that linger in memory, and the continuous interplay between sadness and felicity. It is a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of our past and the ongoing effort required to move forward, piece by piece, towards a brighter, more illuminated future.

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