Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Field 1", Michael Thomas McClure explores the intricate balance between the transcendent and the corporeal, painting a vivid portrait of existence that fuses natural imagery with profound self-awareness. The poem is imbued with raw emotion, capturing the paradoxes of life—its beauty, rebellion, and the haunting shadow of mortality.

McClure begins with a proclamation: “THESE ARE MY FINE SWEET POEMS!!” This assertive declaration introduces the work as both a personal testament and a bold offering to the world. The poems are described as “Immortal as butterfly wings and the song that the eagle sings as he screams diving!” The juxtaposition of delicate butterfly wings and the powerful scream of an eagle underscores the duality within the poet’s vision: beauty and fragility coexisting with raw, wild force.

The line “When I stare at all things there / I float in them / locked in the vision” conveys a sense of transcendence. The speaker becomes absorbed in the natural world, experiencing a deep connection that elevates them beyond their physical self. Yet, this exalted state is not without its torment. The imagery of “burning through black smoky holes” and the stench of oneself “BURNING” suggests an awareness of the self’s destructive, consuming aspects. This duality—the sublime intertwined with suffering—is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

The repetition of “MYSELF BURNING” serves as both an admission and a defiance, highlighting the speaker’s struggle with their own existential reality. The reference to “The Ghost of my Actions / Sexual! Loving! Incomprehensible!” evokes the complexity of human impulses and desires. The ghost symbolizes the residual effects of one’s actions, haunting and intangible, while the descriptors underscore the contradictions inherent in human nature—passion that is both life-affirming and unknowable.

“Not knowing the black caves of meat of the self / SINGING! / LAUGHING!!” reveals an acceptance of the unknown depths of the psyche. The “black caves of meat” evoke the primal, physical nature of existence, while the triumphant acts of “SINGING! / LAUGHING!!” signal an embrace of that raw, visceral reality. McClure’s imagery suggests that the true self is a blend of darkness and expression, a celebration of life’s inherent contradictions.

The line “THIS SOFT VELVETY PURPLE FLOWER IN MY HAND” brings a moment of tactile beauty amid the intensity. This delicate image, combined with the speaker standing on a mountaintop, symbolizes a fleeting moment of peace and connection with the natural world. The startled owl flying around the speaker’s head reinforces the theme of sudden awareness and the wisdom that comes with it—an owl often being a symbol of insight and mystery.

The stanza “Even the RED, GRAY AND GREEN LICHENS under my feet on the scatter of rocks have histories” underscores the idea that everything, even the seemingly insignificant, holds a story. The lichens, ancient and persistent, suggest endurance and the layered nature of existence. McClure’s attention to such details reflects an awareness that life is composed of myriad small elements, each contributing to the greater whole.

“The cold sunny smell in the air / and the scent of myself AS A / YOUNG MAN / inform the Future!” speaks to the interplay between past and present. The speaker’s youthful essence lingers, shaping their future and identity. Yet, this revelation comes with uncertainty—“Who will doubt that? —And I DON’T know it!” The paradox of certainty and doubt, of understanding and mystery, is laid bare.

The final exclamation, “THIS IS THE PRICE OF THE BLACKNESS AS IT MAKES ITSELF REAL WITH OWLISH STARE!!!!!!!!,” encapsulates the poem’s themes of confronting darkness and finding meaning within it. The “owlish stare” suggests penetrating insight, a gaze that sees through the superficial to the profound truths beneath. The vivid, almost jarring image of “A hand twisting the ear of a dog till it moans” leaves the reader with an unsettling reminder of both the violence and tenderness that cohabit the world and the human soul.

"Field 1" by McClure is an exploration of life’s rawness, its mix of beauty, pain, and transcendence. Through powerful, contrasting imagery, the poet delves into the essence of self-awareness and the complex dance between the light and dark aspects of being. The poem invites the reader to confront their own existence, recognizing that the path to understanding is lined with both awe and turmoil.

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