Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s "Mathematical Secret, and the Apron" is a dense and provocative reflection on the relationship between humanity, technology, and the metaphysical forces that govern existence. In characteristic Olson fashion, the poem intertwines historical, scientific, and spiritual elements to explore a world increasingly disconnected from its deeper truths. Through its fragmented structure and incisive language, Olson critiques the modern obsession with mechanization, reflects on the cyclical emergence of spirit in human history, and ultimately questions the trajectory of human progress.

The poem opens with a reflection on gravity: “weights, the secret of gravity.” This immediately sets the tone as one of inquiry into fundamental forces, both physical and symbolic. Gravity, as a literal force, anchors the material world, but Olson’s reference to its "secret" suggests an elusive, perhaps spiritual or metaphysical dimension. The subsequent line—“when did vehere cease to be operative”—introduces the Latin root of “vehere,” meaning “to carry” or “to bear,” pointing to a moment when the balance between weight and movement, matter and purpose, was lost. Olson laments that in the modern world, individuals are “almost weightless, and sodden at once,” evoking a paradox of detachment and heaviness that characterizes the existential condition of contemporary life. This duality—weightlessness and soddenness—reflects both a loss of grounding and an overwhelming burden, as if humanity is unmoored yet still constrained by its own inertia.

The poem then takes a historical turn, invoking Copan D and Chartres, two sites of profound cultural and spiritual significance. Copan D, a reference to the Mayan ruins, and Chartres, the iconic Gothic cathedral, symbolize epochs when humanity was attuned to cosmic and spiritual forces. Olson’s comparison of these sites underscores their shared capacity to embody a "time-bearing" function, connecting human existence to larger cycles and meanings. He expands this reflection to include “India in the VIIIth,” “the banks of the Managua,” and “Arabs,” tracing a lineage of spiritual vitality across cultures and epochs. By highlighting these moments, Olson contrasts them with the present, suggesting that the modern era has lost touch with the spirit that once infused human civilization.

The reference to “America, in 1948” introduces a personal and historical specificity, situating Olson’s critique within the context of post-war America. This moment—on the cusp of the Cold War and the rise of technological dominance—marks a turning point in Olson’s view, a period when the lust for machines and mechanization overtook the human capacity for deeper understanding. The invocation of “Hitler” as a symbol of this destructive trajectory underscores the dangers of dehumanization and the fetishization of technology. Olson’s indictment—“the lust, for the machine, is copralagnia”—is striking in its visceral critique. The term “copralagnia,” meaning a fetishistic desire for filth, equates the modern obsession with technology to a perverse compulsion to embrace that which degrades and destroys.

Olson’s mention of “the Munich niece” refers to Geli Raubal, Adolf Hitler’s niece, whose mysterious death has been the subject of speculation. This reference, charged with personal and historical scandal, encapsulates Olson’s critique of destructive desires. By aligning this tragedy with the broader critique of mechanization and moral decay, Olson underscores the intimate and societal consequences of such compulsions.

Structurally, the poem is fragmented, mirroring the complexity and disarray of the modern world it critiques. The abrupt transitions between historical references and philosophical musings reflect the disjointedness of human understanding in an era where deeper connections have been severed. Olson’s free verse form allows for fluidity and openness, inviting the reader to draw their own links between the disparate elements.

"Mathematical Secret, and the Apron" is ultimately a meditation on the loss of spiritual and existential grounding in the face of technological and mechanistic dominance. By tracing humanity’s spiritual lineage and contrasting it with the destructive tendencies of the modern era, Olson critiques the trajectory of human progress while gesturing toward the enduring need for balance, weight, and meaning. The poem is both a lament and a call to rediscover the forces—cosmic, cultural, and spiritual—that once guided human existence, offering a vision of renewal amidst the chaos of modernity.

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