Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson?s "Move Over" is a dense and layered critique of societal and geographical identities, blending historical reflection, personal anecdote, and biting commentary on cultural and moral constructs. The poem oscillates between the specific and the universal, exploring themes of decay, resilience, and the tension between natural and artificial constructs. Olson’s use of fragmented, almost conversational lines invites the reader into a reflective and provocative meditation on New England’s legacy and its broader implications for human experience.

The opening lines, “Merchants, of the sea and of finance / (Smash the plate glass window),” set a confrontational tone, immediately positioning commerce and capitalism as targets of critique. The mention of "plate glass" suggests transparency or fragility, yet Olson’s call to “smash” this symbol reveals his disdain for the economic and cultural systems that dominate modernity. The focus on merchants ties to New England’s historical identity as a hub of maritime trade and early American capitalism, but Olson does not romanticize this history. Instead, he critiques its dehumanizing effects, as symbolized by the "dead face" he attributes to Washington—a face devoid of vitality or authenticity.

New York, described as “a misery,” serves as a counterpoint to the “north and east,” where Olson finds a different model in the carpenter who “obeyed topography.” This carpenter, likely a symbolic figure, represents a harmonious relationship with nature, guided by the land’s contours rather than imposing artificial structures. Olson’s imagery of a hand tending to plants and constructing a house in alignment with the earth suggests a vision of human activity that respects natural processes and proportions. This ideal, however, is overshadowed by the spectral presence of “hants” (ghosts) that inhabit New England—a metaphor for the lingering consequences of its moral and economic history.

The poem’s title, "Move Over", becomes a directive not only to individuals but also to societal constructs, urging them to make way for something transformative—even if it is destructive. “Move over to let the death-blow in” signals a necessary upheaval, a confrontation with decay and mortality that might clear the way for renewal. Olson’s mention of the “unmanned or the transvest, drest / in beard and will, the capillary” introduces an enigmatic image of transformation or identity in flux. This phrase might suggest a challenge to rigid definitions of gender, power, and agency, reflecting Olson’s broader critique of societal norms.

The personal tone intensifies in the line, “Seven years with the wrong man, / 7 yrs of tristus and vibullation.” The repetition emphasizes the speaker’s endurance of an oppressive or unsatisfactory period, marked by sadness (“tristus”) and turmoil. The specificity of “seven years” lends a confessional quality to the poem, grounding its broader critiques in lived experience. Olson juxtaposes this with an almost surreal anecdote: “And I looked up to see a toad. And the boy sd: / ‘I crushed one, and its blood is green.’” This moment captures a brutal yet vivid encounter with nature, where the toad’s green blood becomes a startling revelation of life’s resilience and strangeness.

The refrain-like declaration, “Green, is the color of my true love’s green / despite,” imbues the poem with an almost mythic quality. Green, often associated with growth, renewal, and nature, stands as a symbol of hope or vitality that persists “despite” the harsh realities Olson outlines. The unresolved “despite” lingers as an acknowledgment of contradiction—the coexistence of beauty and brutality, love and despair.

In the final lines, Olson returns to New England, grappling with its complex identity. He acknowledges the region’s contradictions: “despite / New England is / despite her merchants and her morals.” New England is both a site of historical weight and cultural rigidity, embodied by its merchants and moral codes, and a place of enduring significance and potential. Olson’s ambivalence reflects his broader perspective on human constructs, which can both stifle and inspire.

Structurally, the poem mirrors its thematic tensions through its fragmented, disjointed form. The abrupt shifts in tone and imagery evoke a sense of disruption, mirroring Olson’s call for upheaval and transformation. The conversational rhythm, interspersed with stark, declarative statements, draws the reader into Olson’s reflective process while maintaining an air of urgency and immediacy.

"Move Over" is a powerful exploration of decay, transformation, and resilience, rooted in the specific geography and history of New England but resonating far beyond. Through his critique of commerce, morality, and societal norms, Olson challenges the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about identity, history, and human impact. Yet, amidst the critique, he offers glimpses of hope and renewal, embodied in the persistent image of green—a color that symbolizes life’s enduring ability to adapt and thrive.

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