Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Lamantia’s poem “Ancients Have Returned Among Us” is a richly layered work that explores themes of timeless wisdom, mystical encounters, and the intersection of the ancient and modern worlds. Through its vivid and surreal imagery, the poem invites readers into a realm where the boundaries of time and space are fluid, and where the ancients communicate profound truths in ways that transcend conventional understanding.

The poem opens with the return of the ancients, described in a manner that defies ordinary perception: “in a way humming thru crystals of light—most unexpected— / the ancients sizzle and dazzle / not as we imagined nor can put our machines to nor / make comprehensible by words or songs or metaphors.” This sets the tone for the entire piece, emphasizing that the wisdom and presence of the ancients are beyond human comprehension and cannot be fully captured by modern technology or language.

Lamantia portrays the ancients as beings who interact with the world in magical and transformative ways: “The ancients have truly returned to us / and have unfurled flags of sudden Cloud Rings / from rivers crossing the most ordinary streets.” This imagery suggests that the ancients are interwoven with the mundane aspects of life, infusing them with a sense of wonder and mystery.

The poem moves through a series of surreal and symbolic scenes, each depicting the ancients' influence: “on the way back from mediterranean flowers whose lips / sip the leaf-elevators of the natural man buried in the / dreams whose chrysalis snaps from the Dragon / of fortuitous events whispered at the Age of Cham.” Here, Lamantia intertwines natural and mythological elements, highlighting the transformative power of dreams and the ancients' role in guiding human destiny.

The poet hears the ancients through nature's elements: “I can hear the ancients from the mouth of / fog & dazzling wind sonatas beloved of hunchback adepts / & dismembered mummies whose Living Light / crackles from the diapason of This Constant Present Moment.” This evokes a sense of ongoing, timeless communication, where the ancients' messages are embedded in the natural world and resonate through time.

The poem emphasizes the importance of silence and introspection: “they use as a bridge to remind me to be silent / & seal my words by carbon honeys & not to spare / the endless rolls of cellophane reaching Saturn.” This suggests that true understanding requires a quiet mind and a readiness to receive the ancients' wisdom, which is both profound and elusive.

Lamantia also touches on themes of cosmic order and predestination: “they caution me to Flamboyant Order / that repeats the dooms ordained by the transfiguration / of the banners of wayward heralds whose brains / fall blandly & sedately & fall again / through the overdrenched factories of neon blindness.” This passage critiques modern society’s detachment from deeper truths, juxtaposing it with the ancients' inherent knowledge of cosmic cycles.

The poem culminates in a vision of the ancients' wisdom as omnipresent and eternal: “Truly the wisdom of the ancients is written everywhere you can / not see it and / secreted nowhere other than through the tachygraph / under the cascade of capillary mountains / forever registered before this instant gave birth to / its opposite which is snaking beyond the distance.” Lamantia suggests that the ancients' knowledge is both visible and hidden, accessible through deep contemplation and a recognition of the interconnectedness of all things.

The closing lines bring the poem full circle, connecting the ancients' wisdom to the cycles of life and nature: “These cups that flow like banners of molten lead / Cups put together by Tartesian Giants / hallucinated by the saints of Ys / unveiled in allegories of the Tower floating the / hearts of children.” This imagery blends myth, legend, and spiritual symbolism, portraying the ancients' wisdom as a vital force that continues to shape and inspire the world.

“Ancients Have Returned Among Us” by Philip Lamantia is a profound exploration of the timeless and mystical aspects of human existence. Through its dense and evocative language, the poem invites readers to reflect on the deep connections between past and present, the seen and unseen, and the natural and supernatural realms. Lamantia’s rich tapestry of imagery and symbolism offers a vision of the world where ancient wisdom continues to resonate, guiding and illuminating the path of human understanding.

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