Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Playing Skittles," Howard Nemerov reflects on the simple yet captivating experience of playing a game of skittles (similar to bowling) and uses it as a metaphor to explore deeper questions about consciousness, intention, and the nature of mind. Through the vivid depiction of the game, Nemerov delves into the human tendency to imbue inanimate objects with life and purpose, even as he acknowledges their ultimate lack of awareness.

The poem begins by addressing the reader directly, asserting that "No matter how dull your soul, you cannot help / But fill these skittering wooden dervishes / With spirit and will." This introduction sets the stage for the personification of the wooden pins, which, despite being lifeless objects, are animated by the observer's imagination. The use of the word "dervishes" evokes a sense of chaotic, spirited motion, suggesting that the pins, like whirling Sufi dancers, are full of vitality and purpose as they move.

As the poem progresses, Nemerov describes the player's engagement with the game: "you lean over their box / To watch them skip and weave and stagger among / The dumbbell pins." This close observation and involvement in the game highlight the player's investment in the outcome, further emphasizing the personification of the pins. The player’s emotional responses—urging the pins on, cursing them when they miss—reflect a projection of human attributes onto the inanimate objects.

Nemerov acknowledges the absurdity of this personification with the line, "Although you know they are like two blind men / Shut in invisible revolving doors." This simile underlines the randomness and lack of control the pins actually have, despite the player's perception of their actions as purposeful. The pins' movements, described as "intent, sometimes indifferent," mirror human behavior, oscillating between purposeful action and aimless wandering.

The poem then shifts to a contemplation of the nature of mind and consciousness: "And yet this matter of mind's no simple matter: / If not out there, then how in the world in here?" This philosophical query challenges the reader to consider the origins and existence of consciousness. If the inanimate objects we observe and animate in our minds lack true consciousness, how do we understand the mind within ourselves? This question blurs the line between external observation and internal experience.

Nemerov concludes with a profound metaphor: "Agelong these tops concealed the gyroscope / Whose insane energies stabilize the earth." Here, he suggests that beneath the surface of seemingly simple or chaotic actions lies a deeper, stabilizing force. The gyroscope, an instrument that maintains equilibrium through constant motion, symbolizes the underlying order within apparent disorder. This metaphor implies that while the pins (or tops) in the game appear to move randomly, they are part of a larger, stabilizing system—much like the forces that govern the natural world.

"Playing Skittles" by Howard Nemerov uses the microcosm of a simple game to explore complex themes of consciousness, intention, and the human tendency to project life onto the lifeless. Through vivid imagery and philosophical reflection, the poem invites readers to consider the interplay between perception and reality, and the deeper forces at work beneath the surface of everyday experiences. Nemerov’s thoughtful examination of the game becomes a meditation on the nature of mind and the hidden order within apparent chaos.

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