Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "Incunabula, 1958" is a brief yet layered work that encapsulates key aspects of his poetics: physical presence, the immediacy of experience, and the interplay of language and love. The term "incunabula" itself is significant, referring to the earliest stages of something, often used to describe the earliest printed books. Here, it seems to evoke beginnings—whether of intimacy, family, or human expression.

The imagery is strikingly physical and intimate: Olson presents himself “naked, but with my boots on,” an image that is both vulnerable and grounded. The boots suggest readiness, strength, and connection to the earth, while his nakedness conveys openness and authenticity. The contrast underscores the tension between human vulnerability and resilience, a theme Olson often explores. The inclusion of his son, “to my left,” situates this moment within a familial context, further rooting the scene in both human connection and continuity.

The “open piazza” where the speaker walks evokes a sense of public space, expansiveness, and perhaps even exposure. Olson?s use of physical geography often reflects emotional or intellectual states, and here, the openness of the piazza mirrors the openness of his relationships. His emphatic kiss with his wife in this setting blurs the line between the personal and the communal, suggesting a seamless integration of intimate love into the broader fabric of life. The act of declaring, “we…live here, it is right you have come,” further asserts a sense of belonging, both to place and to each other.

The second half of the poem shifts to “The Words,” where Olson narrows his focus to language itself. “Love by word of mouth” suggests the power of spoken communication to embody love, emphasizing the oral, embodied nature of human connection. The repetition of “love, love by mouth” reinforces this idea, creating a rhythm that mimics the act of speaking and emphasizes the primacy of the spoken word in expressing intimacy and truth. For Olson, language is never abstract—it is always tied to breath, the body, and the act of living.

In this concise work, Olson intertwines the physical and the linguistic, presenting a vision of human existence as deeply connected to both the tangible world and the spoken word. The poem is both a celebration of love—familial and romantic—and a meditation on the power of language to make that love present and enduring. Its simplicity belies a profound exploration of what it means to live authentically and communicate openly, grounding universal themes in the immediacy of personal experience.

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