Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "Plantation a Beginning" is a historical reflection that captures the struggle, ambition, and tenuous beginnings of Gloucester as a settlement. Olson uses a blend of historical detail, personal memory, and reflective commentary to paint a vivid picture of the 1623 attempt to establish a fishing plantation on Cape Ann. Through his layered narrative, the poem evokes themes of perseverance, futility, and the entanglement of personal and collective histories.

The poem opens with Olson seated on a wintry Sunday, facing the bleakness of the present while delving into the historical records of Gloucester?s first settlers. The gray waters and stark winter imagery reflect the harshness faced by the fourteen "spare men" who arrived in 1623. These men, Olson notes, were left to eke out an existence in an environment described by John White, a contemporary chronicler, as unforgiving: “the Snow lyes indeed about a foot thicke for ten weekes.” This grim description sets the tone for the settlers? struggle, emphasizing their isolation and the unyielding conditions they faced.

Olson interweaves historical facts with personal anecdotes, connecting the past to his own experiences in Gloucester. The mention of "Half Moon beach" and "Stage Head," where settlers sought shelter, transitions seamlessly to a modern memory of the area as a lovers? park. This juxtaposition highlights how time transforms spaces of labor and survival into sites of leisure and curiosity. Olson?s personal recollection of his mother, wife, and "Pat Foley" adds a layer of intimacy and humor, grounding the historical narrative in the present and emphasizing the continuity of human activity in this landscape.

The poem delves deeply into the economic underpinnings of the settlement. Olson meticulously details the costs of establishing the plantation, from the unnamed ship (possibly the "Fellowship") to the expenses of provisioning and launching the venture. The repetition of "200 pounds" underscores the financial strain and underscores the precariousness of the venture. Olson contrasts the material investments with the meager returns, noting that the ship?s cargo of fish—though valuable in Bilbao—barely offset the expenses. This economic futility mirrors the broader challenges of colonization, where ambition often collided with harsh realities.

Olson?s focus on fish—“fish fish fish”—underscores Gloucester?s identity as a fishing hub and the foundation of its economy. Yet, this focus also highlights the monotony and narrowness of the settlers’ enterprise. The land itself is described as "thinnest dust," unsuitable for agriculture or other forms of sustenance. Olson notes that the settlers turned to the sea out of necessity, establishing what Captain John Smith described as a “fishing have set up.” This repetition of "fishing" underscores both the settlers? resilience and the limitations of their aspirations.

The poem also touches on the erasure and transformation of indigenous presence. Olson references Champlain’s encounters with the region?s Native Americans in 1606, noting that "smallpox had made Champlain?s Indians...as thin as dogs." This brief but powerful acknowledgment situates Gloucester?s history within the larger context of colonial violence and disease. The absence of Native Americans by 1623 is palpable, their decimation a silent backdrop to the settlers? arrival and labor.

Structurally, the poem is fluid and conversational, reflecting Olson’s style of open field composition. The free verse allows him to move seamlessly between historical narration, personal memory, and reflective commentary. The enjambment mirrors the ebb and flow of thought, creating a sense of continuity that bridges past and present.

"Plantation a Beginning" is also a meditation on effort and legacy. The settlers? struggles are presented as a foundation for Gloucester?s later development, yet Olson’s tone is ambivalent. The repeated financial losses and the settlers’ minimal success suggest that the beginnings of Gloucester were fraught with difficulty and ambiguity. This ambivalence is encapsulated in the closing line: “It cost $30,000 to get Gloucester started.” The specificity of the figure grounds the poem in the material realities of the settlers? efforts, while the phrasing leaves open the question of whether this cost was worth the return.

Ultimately, Olson?s poem is a layered exploration of history, memory, and place. It captures the resilience and resourcefulness of Gloucester’s first settlers while highlighting the fragility and contingency of their endeavor. By weaving together historical detail and personal reflection, Olson not only preserves the memory of Gloucester’s beginnings but also invites readers to consider the human costs and complexities of establishing a "beginning" in an unforgiving world.

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