Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson’s “Song of Ullikummi” is a provocative and mythologically charged retelling of the Hurrian-Hittite myth of Ullikummi, with Olson employing his distinct style to explore themes of creation, power, and primal forces. Written as a tribute to Ezra Pound and based on an ancient myth, the poem delves into the raw dynamics of cosmic creation through the lens of sexual and geological imagery.

The myth of Ullikummi, central to the Kumarbi cycle of Hurrian-Hittite mythology, recounts the story of Kumarbi impregnating a giant stone to create Ullikummi, a titan meant to challenge the gods. Olson’s rendition emphasizes the visceral and physical nature of this act, situating it in the primal clash of elemental forces. By highlighting the graphic and tactile aspects of the myth, Olson aligns the creation process with both sexual potency and geological upheaval.

The poem opens with the stark declaration, “fucked the Mountain / fucked her but good,” immediately framing the relationship between Kumarbi and the mountain as one of domination and fecundity. The repetition of “he let it go” amplifies the relentless, almost mechanical nature of the act, underscoring its significance as a generative force. This imagery transforms the mountain into both a literal and symbolic vessel, blending human physicality with the geological scale of the myth.

Olson?s invocation of ancient measurement units, such as "ikunta luli," "dalugasti," and "palhasti," grounds the poem in the myth?s original cultural and linguistic context while also creating a sense of the mythic past?s vastness. The precision of these measurements contrasts with the chaotic and unrestrained act of creation, highlighting the dual nature of myth: it is both an ordered narrative and a representation of untamable forces.

The repetition of phrases like “his mind sprang forward” and “what below she has he sprang upon” ties Kumarbi’s intellectual or divine wisdom to his physical act of creation. Olson fuses mind and body, thought and action, suggesting that creation in this mythic context requires both the cerebral and the primal. The act of “sticking wisdom unto his mind” mirrors the sexual act itself, further intertwining intellect and corporeality.

Olson’s use of language here is unflinching, often coarse, and intentionally provocative. The graphic descriptions—“the fucking of the Mountain went right through it and came out the other side”—emphasize the violence and transformative power of creation. This depiction of creation as an act of penetration and upheaval mirrors the myth?s depiction of Ullikummi as a destructive yet generative force, destined to challenge the cosmic order.

The poem also weaves in cosmic and elemental imagery, particularly with references to "Arunas the Sea" and "sallis perunas" (a great rock). These references situate the myth within a broader cosmological framework, where the sea, rock, and gods interact as fundamental forces shaping the world. Olson’s invocation of these elements aligns the myth’s narrative with his broader poetic vision, which often explores the interplay of natural, human, and divine forces.

Structurally, the poem mirrors the relentless energy of its content. Its fragmented lines and lack of punctuation create a breathless, continuous flow, evoking the ceaselessness of the mythic act and its repercussions. Olson’s use of repetition and parallel structures reinforces the ritualistic and cyclical nature of the narrative, while the direct and unapologetic language keeps the reader immersed in the immediacy of the myth.

Olson?s tribute to Ezra Pound is significant, as Pound’s work often sought to connect ancient myths and modern consciousness. By adapting this ancient myth through his own lens, Olson continues this lineage, using myth to confront the raw and primal underpinnings of human creativity and cosmic order.

“Song of Ullikummi” ultimately serves as a meditation on creation and its inherent violence and potency. Through the fusion of ancient mythological language, vivid imagery, and Olson’s characteristic style, the poem brings the myth into sharp contemporary focus. Olson’s emphasis on the physical and elemental aspects of the story underscores the enduring relevance of myths as expressions of humanity’s ongoing engagement with the forces that shape existence, whether geological, sexual, or divine.

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