Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Lehman’s "Brooklyn Bridge" is an exuberant homage to the structure, inspired by Vladimir Mayakovsky’s "Brooklyn Bridge", a poem that captured the Russian poet’s fascination with New York’s modernity and grandeur. Lehman mirrors Mayakovsky’s rhapsodic tone, blending reverence, awe, and a keen sense of historical weight to celebrate the bridge as both an engineering marvel and a cultural symbol.

The poem is structured in free verse, employing irregular line lengths and a rhythmic momentum that mimics the bridge’s towering presence and the energetic pulse of New York City. The direct address to "Coolidge" in the opening line is an allusion to President Calvin Coolidge, setting a somewhat irreverent and humorous tone. "Hey, Coolidge, / shout for joy! / I’ve got to hand it to you—" suggests a playful celebration, positioning the bridge as a national triumph. The phrase "no matter how United / States of America / you may be!" playfully hints at American patriotism while maintaining a tone of ironic detachment.

Lehman continues with a series of comparisons, aligning his approach to the bridge with acts of devotion, conquest, and artistic appreciation: "As a madman / enters a church / or retreats / to a monastery, / pure and austere, / so I, / in the haze of evening / humbly approach / the Brooklyn Bridge." This mixture of madness and reverence sets the stage for the poet’s near-religious admiration for the bridge. The phrase "drunk with glory, / higher than a kite, / I cross the Brooklyn Bridge" evokes a Mayakovskian sense of intoxicated grandeur, linking the poet’s movement across the bridge to the experience of a victorious conqueror.

The poem vividly captures New York’s transition from day to night, emphasizing the serenity that descends upon the city after its daily turmoil: "New York, / hot and humid / until night, / has now forgotten / the daily fight." The contrast between the city’s frenetic daytime energy and its quieter nocturnal mood gives the bridge an almost mystical aura. The elevated train ("the hum of the El") becomes a distant, softened sound, reinforcing the bridge’s detachment from the city’s chaos.

Lehman’s focus then shifts to the bridge’s structural ingenuity: "My living visions here / stand tall: / a fight for structure over style, / the calculus of beams of steel." This admiration for engineering mirrors Mayakovsky’s fascination with industrial modernity, presenting the bridge as an intellectual and aesthetic achievement. The lines "If the end of the world should come, / wiping out the earth, / and all that remains / is this bridge," envision the bridge as a lasting testament to human ingenuity, likening it to the fossilized remains of dinosaurs that reveal the past to future generations.

The poem also engages with America’s historical narrative: "Europe rushed to the West, scattering / Indian feathers / to the wind." Here, Lehman acknowledges the bridge’s role in connecting the old world to the new, but also subtly critiques the displacement of Indigenous peoples in the process of American expansion. This historical consciousness deepens the poem’s significance, positioning the bridge not just as a marvel of engineering but as a witness to the country’s layered past.

Lehman’s closing stanza directly references Mayakovsky, linking his own poetic vision with that of his Russian predecessor: "And finally I see— / Here stood Mayakovsky, / composing verse, syllable by syllable." This acknowledgment situates Lehman within a lineage of poets who have drawn inspiration from New York and its iconic structures. The final lines, "Brooklyn Bridge, / you?re really something, aren?t you?" conclude the poem with a colloquial flourish, grounding the grandiose imagery in everyday speech and reinforcing the poet’s deep admiration.

Overall, "Brooklyn Bridge" is a dynamic and multifaceted tribute that captures the structure’s physical, historical, and symbolic weight. By interweaving personal reflection, historical commentary, and poetic homage, Lehman creates a contemporary response to Mayakovsky’s vision, celebrating the bridge as an enduring emblem of human ambition, resilience, and artistic inspiration.

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