Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Lamantia's poem “Wilderness Sacred Wilderness” delves into the complexities and contradictions of the poet's existence, weaving together historical, mythological, and personal imagery to create a rich tapestry of meaning. Through its vivid and often surreal language, the poem explores themes of creativity, identity, and the interplay between the sacred and the mundane.

The poem opens with a juxtaposition that sets the tone for the entire piece: “It’s cozy to be a poet in a bed, on a copse, knoll, in a room / It’s terrible to be a poet dragons around to bite off your wings.” This contrast between the comfort of poetic introspection and the perilous nature of creative pursuit immediately establishes the duality that runs throughout the poem. The "dragons" symbolize the external and internal challenges that threaten the poet's imaginative freedom.

Lamantia then moves into a series of allusions that mix historical and mythical figures: “as Nietzsche turns into Victor Emmanuel Re di Italia / Helen Ennoia looks up into the eternal pools of the eyes of Simon Magus.” These lines suggest a blending of philosophical, political, and mystical elements, reflecting the complex influences on the poet's psyche. The mention of Nietzsche, a figure associated with existential philosophy, alongside Victor Emmanuel, a symbol of political power, underscores the tension between intellectual exploration and societal structures.

The poem critiques the commercialization and trivialization of cultural myths: “and all the botched lies of mythic ties kick open the corpse / a bag of museum dust / manikin / in the manner of Simon Rodia, Buffalo Bill, like P.T. Barnum.” Lamantia references figures known for their roles in shaping American cultural mythology, suggesting that these constructed legends have become hollow and lifeless, mere "museum dust." The comparison to Simon Rodia, the creator of the Watts Towers, and showmen like Buffalo Bill and P.T. Barnum highlights the tension between genuine artistic expression and commercial spectacle.

Lamantia’s imagery continues to blend the sacred and the profane: “El Dorado is the flashback to pancake mornings ‘home is where you / hang yourself’ / signed Bill / The games of golf on the misogynist wastes / centuries multiply metaphysical field notes.” The invocation of El Dorado, a legendary city of gold, contrasts with the mundane reality of "pancake mornings," suggesting a disillusionment with the pursuit of utopian ideals. The phrase “home is where you hang yourself” darkly subverts the familiar adage, reflecting a sense of entrapment and despair.

The poem shifts to a reflection on the mystical and spiritual: “There’s the sleep of Ra in the West / a blurred photo of purple and lumens / on a windy hilltop in the manner of Man Ray.” Here, Lamantia evokes the Egyptian sun god Ra and the surrealist photography of Man Ray, blending ancient spirituality with modern artistic techniques. This merging of eras and styles underscores the poem’s exploration of time and tradition.

In the lines “Poe’s Appalachia in the far western sea where the forest saves us the forest hides us,” Lamantia draws on the gothic sensibilities of Edgar Allan Poe to convey a sense of mystery and refuge in nature. The forest becomes a place of both salvation and concealment, a recurring motif in Lamantia’s work that highlights the duality of the natural world as both nurturing and ominous.

As the poem progresses, Lamantia continues to layer imagery and references: “the video cassettes the people are coming we’re at / the communion on the mountaintop it’s true but / the wheel turns the beaver chews the pole holding up the world.” This blend of contemporary and timeless elements suggests the constant interplay between modern life and ancient rituals, with the beaver’s actions symbolizing the relentless forces of change and decay.

The poem’s conclusion brings together these themes in a reflection on the ephemeral nature of existence: “It’s coming back home like a dream-memoir at the death of day in the poetical / pastiche framing a mask of postcard view from the dawn of Ra.” Here, Lamantia evokes a sense of returning to origins, both personal and mythological, in a moment of poetic reflection that encompasses the entire cycle of day and night, life and death.

“Wilderness Sacred Wilderness” is a complex and multi-layered work that uses rich, allusive language to explore the challenges and contradictions of the poetic life. Lamantia’s blending of historical, mythological, and contemporary imagery creates a vivid and dynamic portrait of the poet’s inner world, highlighting the tensions between creativity and commercialization, the sacred and the mundane, and the timeless and the transient. Through its intricate and evocative language, the poem invites readers to consider the deeper meanings and connections that underlie the surface of everyday life and artistic expression.

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