Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Lastness: 3," Galway Kinnell weaves a contemplative narrative about existence, the inevitability of death, and the fleeting nature of life. Through striking imagery and a thoughtful exploration of sound and silence, Kinnell delves into the profound moments where life and death intersect, and where human consciousness grapples with its own temporality.

The poem begins with the speaker walking toward a cliff overhanging a river, calling out to a stone. This action sets up a conversation between the human and the natural world, a dialogue between life and the inanimate. The stone's response, its "voice hunting among the rubble / for my ears," suggests an attempt to connect across the divide between the living and the non-living. The imagery here is rich with the idea of searching and finding, emphasizing the human desire for connection and understanding in a world that often feels indifferent.

As the speaker approaches the cliffside, there is a critical moment of realization: "you sense the line / where the voice calling from stone / no longer answers, / turns into stone, and nothing comes back." This line marks the boundary between life and death, between presence and absence. The echo, which initially responds to the speaker's call, fades into silence, symbolizing the transition from life to death, from communication to void. It is a poignant reminder of the limits of human existence and the ultimate silence that awaits.

The speaker stands "between answer / and nothing," embodying the tension between life and death. The mention of "old shoes / flowed over by rainbows of hen-oil" evokes a sense of continuity and history, as well as a connection to nature and the past. These shoes, holding the bones that "ripple together in the communion / of the step," symbolize the journey of life, with each step a testament to the passage of time and the accumulation of experiences. The toes, "trying / to dissolve into the future," suggest a yearning to move forward, to transcend the present moment.

A sudden "clatter of elk hooves" interrupts the meditation, grounding the speaker in the present and evoking the raw, unmediated presence of nature. This sound contrasts with the earlier silence and echoes, reinforcing the theme of life's fleeting and unpredictable nature. The question that follows—"Has the top sphere / emptied itself? Is it true / the earth is all there is, and the earth does not last?"—poses existential questions about the permanence of the world and the finite nature of life. The "top sphere" likely refers to the heavens or the universe, hinting at the cosmic scale of existence and the possible emptiness beyond our earthly realm.

The image of "the world floats by holding one corpse" on the river is both haunting and beautiful. It captures the idea that life carries death within it, and that the journey of living inevitably leads to the end. This single corpse symbolizes the universal human experience, a reminder that death is an integral part of life.

The poem concludes with a stark imperative: "Stop. / Stop here. / Living brings you to death, there is no other road." These lines are a powerful acknowledgment of the inescapable reality of mortality. By urging the reader to stop and reflect, Kinnell emphasizes the importance of confronting the truth of our existence and finding meaning within it.

"Lastness: 3" is a meditation on the nature of life and death, and the spaces in between where we seek meaning and connection. Through its evocative imagery and deep philosophical inquiries, the poem invites readers to contemplate their own journey and the inevitable end that awaits us all. Kinnell's work resonates with a timeless truth, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of life, and the profound silence that ultimately follows.

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