Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "I Am So Small You Can Hardly See Me" offers a layered and evocative exploration of identity, power, and presence, drawing inspiration from the classical figure of Priapus, a minor fertility deity in Greek mythology. The poem, a translation of Archias filtered through J.W. Mackail, is imbued with Olson’s characteristic ability to blend personal, mythological, and natural imagery into a seamless whole, situating the speaker as both insignificant and potent within a larger cosmic order.

The poem begins with a self-effacing declaration: “I am so small you can hardly see me.” This statement immediately establishes a paradoxical tension between the speaker’s diminutive size and their implied importance. The speaker, identifying as Priapus, aligns himself with a figure traditionally associated with fertility, protection, and the boundary between the cultivated and the wild. However, Olson’s Priapus is stripped of his classical grandeur; he is no imposing statue guarding a garden but rather a figure “not much bigger than a sea-gull,” rendered almost ephemeral in his presence.

The choice to evoke Priapus in this modest guise speaks to Olson’s interest in reimagining mythological figures in a contemporary context. Priapus, often depicted as a grotesque symbol of virility and excess, is here humanized, even humbled. He becomes a boyish, almost playful figure, a protector who might “make himself available” if needed. The mention of “a boy might scratch my picture lazying along the sand” transforms Priapus into a fleeting mark of creativity, a moment of casual engagement with myth by an unaware child. This image emphasizes the transient and mutable nature of myth itself, shaped by those who invoke or reinterpret it.

The poem’s setting, “this watch-house neck of shore,” grounds the mythological in a specific landscape. The mention of the shore evokes a liminal space, a boundary between land and sea, civilization and wilderness, stability and flux. This resonates with Priapus’s traditional role as a guardian of thresholds and boundaries. Olson’s description imbues this place with a sense of quiet vigilance, where the speaker, despite his small size and unassuming presence, watches over the area with a sharp awareness.

The line “if anybody needed me I’d make myself available” further underscores this theme of latent potency. Priapus, though small and seemingly insignificant, retains the ability to act decisively and with purpose. This readiness mirrors the natural world’s capacity for sudden and transformative action. The speaker’s observation that he “can move fast enough” suggests an alignment with the unpredictable and dynamic forces of nature, echoing Olson’s larger poetic project of capturing the interplay between human perception and the natural world.

The final lines expand the speaker’s vision, linking his identity to the “creatures who live in the wood of the soul” and “all the things which drift or run under water.” Here, Olson suggests a profound interconnectedness between the human, the mythological, and the natural. The “wood of the soul” evokes an inner wilderness, a realm of instinct, creativity, and subconscious depth, while the “things which drift or run under water” hint at the hidden, unseen forces that govern life. Priapus becomes a mediator between these realms, his presence a reminder of the porous boundaries between self and world, myth and reality.

The poem’s tone is light and conversational, yet it carries an undercurrent of profound reflection. Olson’s language is deceptively simple, allowing the imagery to speak for itself while inviting readers to engage with its deeper resonances. The interplay between modesty and power, transience and permanence, reflects Olson’s fascination with how individuals navigate their place within larger systems—whether natural, cultural, or mythological.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...