Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Dream-Drumming" is a vivid and transformative exploration of music, embodiment, and transcendence. Through the act of drumming, the speaker undergoes a profound metamorphosis, merging the physical and the spiritual, the personal and the universal.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the initial act of drumming: "I braced the drum to my arm, a flat drum, and began to play. / He heard me and she heard me. I had never seen this drum before." The drum, an unfamiliar yet powerful object, becomes the conduit for the speaker's journey. The act of playing the drum is immediately communal, as it reaches both "he" and "she," indicating that the music transcends individual experience and connects with others.

As the speaker continues to drum, they describe a process of moving through and overcoming weakness: "As I played, weakness went through me; weakness left me." This suggests that the drumming is not just a physical act but a means of healing and empowerment. The speaker's repeated action of holding their arms high and drumming "past my tiredness vibrating weakness, past it into music" emphasizes the endurance and transformation involved in this act.

The poem then draws a parallel to the tradition of ragas, which in classical Indian music are known for their ability to convey deep emotional and spiritual states: "As in ragas past exhaustion into the country of all music." This reference situates the speaker's experience within a broader cultural and spiritual context, suggesting that the act of drumming is a journey into a universal realm of music and meaning.

The speaker's physicality is central to this transformation. They describe themselves becoming "that vibration, drummed the sacrifice of my belly." The use of "sacrifice" suggests a profound offering of the self, a merging of body and spirit through the act of drumming. This is further emphasized by the imagery of the speaker turning "into the infinity figure, reaching down into / the earth of music with my legs at last," indicating a connection with both the grounding and elevating forces of existence.

The poem's climax is the speaker's complete transformation into music: "Reaching up from the two circles, my pelvic sea, / mountains and air of breast, with my arms up into music / At last turned into music, drumming on that possessed / vibration, / Drumming my dream." The "two circles" and "pelvic sea" evoke a sense of the body's core, while "mountains and air of breast" suggest expansiveness and elevation. The speaker's body becomes an instrument of music, embodying the dream they are drumming.

In "Dream-Drumming," Rukeyser uses rich, sensory imagery and rhythmic language to convey the transformative power of music. The poem celebrates the act of creation and the ability of music to transcend physical limitations, connect individuals, and transform the self. Through the metaphor of drumming, Rukeyser explores themes of endurance, healing, and the integration of body and spirit, offering a powerful vision of artistic and personal transcendence.

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