Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Lamantia’s poem “Automatic World” is a vivid, chaotic, and surreal depiction of a dystopian reality that intertwines themes of violence, sensuality, and existential uncertainty. Through a series of striking and often disjointed images, Lamantia captures the frenetic energy and disorienting nature of a world where traditional values and structures have collapsed, giving way to an unpredictable and raw new order.

The poem opens with a stark and ominous declaration: “The sun has drowned / virgins are no more.” These lines suggest a world where natural and moral orders have been overturned. The drowning of the sun symbolizes the loss of light, clarity, and perhaps hope, while the absence of virgins indicates the end of purity and innocence.

Lamantia then asserts, “there is no need for understanding / but there is so much to see.” This sets the stage for a journey through a landscape that defies logic and comprehension, where sensory experience takes precedence over rational thought. The invitation to “come with me / down the boulevard / of crawling veins” evokes a visceral and grotesque image, suggesting a path that is both life-giving and macabre.

The tone is both inviting and unsettling: “Don’t be afraid / blood is cheap!” This casual dismissal of fear and the value of life hints at a desensitization to violence and suffering. The poem’s rapid shift in tone continues with the provocative questions: “A paradise song? / A dirty story? / A love sonnet? / Scream it out!” These lines reflect a chaotic blend of emotions and experiences, where the sacred and profane coexist and are expressed with equal fervor.

As the poem progresses, it paints a vivid picture of societal collapse and upheaval: “Then we’ll have the human walls / tumbling down to meet our march / into the raw-meat city!” The imagery of “human walls” suggests both physical barriers and societal structures that are being dismantled as the speakers advance into a brutal, primal urban environment.

Lamantia’s use of contrasting imagery continues with the description of the landscape: “The velvet robes are strewn / across the landscape / We step upon the sidewalk / that goes up and down / up to the clouds / down to the starving people.” The luxurious “velvet robes” juxtaposed with the stark reality of “starving people” highlights the disparity and disorientation in this world, where the boundaries between opulence and poverty are blurred.

The poem’s frenetic pace and surreal imagery create a sense of urgency and disarray: “Rainbow guns are dancing / in front of the movie queens / Everyone is laughing / flying dying / never knowing when to rest / never knowing when to eat.” The “rainbow guns” suggest a bizarre and colorful violence, while the “movie queens” evoke a sense of spectacle and performance. The lines capture the chaotic energy of a world where normal rhythms of life—eating, resting—are disrupted.

Lamantia continues to layer the poem with grotesque and unsettling images: “And the fountains come falling / out of her thistle-covered breasts / and the dogs are happy and the clowns are knifing / and the ballerinas are eating stone.” These surreal and violent scenes evoke a nightmarish quality, where beauty and brutality are inextricably linked.

The poem’s imagery becomes increasingly macabre: “O the mirror-like dirt / of freshly spilt blood / trickling down the walls / the walls that reach the stars!” The “mirror-like dirt” of blood and the walls that “reach the stars” suggest a world where violence is both reflective and aspirational, permeating every level of existence.

Lamantia’s exploration of destruction and transformation continues: “O the flock of sheep / breaking their flesh open / with bones sucked / from the brothels!” This evokes a sense of self-destruction and moral decay, where even the innocent are implicated in a cycle of violence and degradation.

The poem closes with a mix of existential questions and surreal images: “When will these come? / When will these go? / The sun is riding into your eye / virgins are bursting / from under my flaming palms / and we are slowly floating away.” These lines suggest a perpetual state of flux and uncertainty, where the boundaries between reality and imagination are continually shifting. The image of “virgins bursting” from “flaming palms” evokes a sense of both creation and destruction, underscoring the poem’s themes of transformation and instability.

“Automatic World” by Philip Lamantia is a powerful and disturbing exploration of a world in chaos. Through his use of vivid, surreal imagery and a disjointed narrative style, Lamantia captures the sense of disorientation and existential dread that characterizes this dystopian reality. The poem’s blend of beauty and brutality, sensuality and violence, invites readers to confront the darker aspects of human existence and the potential for transformation amidst chaos.

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