Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "Swimming Through the Air, in Schools Upon the Highways" critiques humanity’s relationship with modernity and environmental destruction through a striking metaphor of people as fish-like creatures, swimming in gelatinized air. The poem?s apocalyptic tone underscores Olson’s characteristic concern with ecological imbalance and the dehumanizing effects of industrialization.

The title and opening lines immediately establish the central metaphor: people "swimming through the air, in schools upon the highways." This imagery invokes both fluidity and confinement, suggesting a world where humans, like fish in overcrowded waters, move in masses with little individuality or direction. The highways become rivers, but instead of a natural, life-sustaining ecosystem, they symbolize the artificial pathways of industrial civilization. Olson emphasizes the environmental toll of this relentless movement, portraying the "lower atmosphere gelatinizing from their traffic," an evocative image that suggests pollution thickening the air, making it viscous and suffocating.

The metaphor of cities as cigarettes reinforces the destructive nature of industrial progress. Cigarettes evoke consumption and addiction, as well as the poisoning of air and bodies. By likening cities to cigarettes, Olson critiques urbanization’s role in environmental degradation and the self-destructive patterns of humanity. This association also highlights a disregard for sustainability, as cities and their inhabitants "burn" resources without considering the long-term consequences.

Olson’s description of the countryside as "sacrificed to their eating time & space up like fish" reveals the extent of industrialization?s encroachment on nature. The use of "eating" emphasizes both consumption and wastefulness, as human activity devours not only physical space but also the intangible realms of time and natural beauty. The comparison to fish underscores the mechanical, instinct-driven nature of this behavior. Like fish, humans in this metaphor move collectively and unthinkingly, prioritizing immediate survival over reflection or foresight.

The poem’s turn to "Fish-people their own UFOs" deepens its critique of modernity. Here, Olson suggests that humans, with their technological advancements, have become alien to their own planet. The image of "fish-people" evokes a hybrid, unnatural existence, where humanity?s integration with machines and systems has estranged it from nature. As "their own UFOs," humans embody the unidentified and the inexplicable, detached from the earth they inhabit and contributing to its destruction.

Olson connects this alienation to the astrological "end of Pisces," a reference to the Age of Pisces, traditionally associated with spirituality and imagination. Its conclusion could symbolize a transition to a new era, potentially one defined by technological dominance and environmental collapse. The phrase "end of species" draws a chilling parallel, warning that the trajectory of unchecked industrial and environmental harm may lead to humanity’s extinction.

The poem’s closing lines evoke a dystopian vision of Earth enveloped in "mucus." Olson’s choice of this organic, suffocating substance illustrates the degradation of the planet’s natural systems. The earth, once a place of vibrant life and diversity, is reduced to a slimy, uninhabitable shell. The phrase "Nature herself left to each flying object passing" suggests a grim relinquishment of the natural world to the whims of humanity’s technological creations. The absence of accountability or reverence for the planet underscores the poem’s critique of human hubris and environmental neglect.

Overall, "Swimming Through the Air, in Schools Upon the Highways" is a poignant reflection on humanity?s ecological impact and existential trajectory. Olson’s vivid metaphors and apocalyptic tone underscore the urgency of addressing the environmental and spiritual costs of modern life. By merging the natural and the technological into a single, unsettling image, Olson challenges readers to confront the consequences of their collective actions and consider the possibility of a more harmonious relationship with the Earth.

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