Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Olson?s "Year Is a Great Circle of the Year Is a Great Mistake" is an intricate reflection on the cyclical nature of time, creation, and human folly. Through a blend of astrological, mythological, and symbolic imagery, Olson interrogates the interplay of repetition, transformation, and misdirection in the human condition. His language, characteristic of his fragmented and layered style, suggests both the inevitability and absurdity of recurring patterns, making the poem a meditation on the cosmic and the mundane.

The opening invocation of "Capricorn" as a figure of "sizable thirst" sets a tone of struggle and resilience. Capricorn, traditionally a symbol of ambition and endurance, is here depicted in motion, stumbling through "cold dry street" alongside "ladies" and the encompassing "night." The night’s act of shoving aside the year reflects a forceful transition, implying not just the passage of time but a confrontation between the old and the new. Olson’s characterization of Capricorn as the "Boob of the movable cardinal" both critiques and humanizes this astrological archetype, suggesting a clumsy persistence that is simultaneously admirable and absurd.

The reference to "not melancholic daylight" contrasts with the cold and darkness, offering a fleeting sense of optimism or clarity. Yet, Olson complicates this with the imagery of Capricorn bearing "on his back an ass and the exaltation of wars." This dual burden—one of stubbornness (the ass) and conflict (wars)—reflects the cyclical weight of history and human endeavor. The association of Capricorn with such heavy symbolism underscores Olson’s theme of repetition: each cycle, whether of the year or of human action, bears the imprints of past struggles and ambitions.

The generational progression of "He and his son and his son?s son" introduces a familial and temporal dimension, reinforcing the idea that cycles extend beyond the individual to encompass collective experience. Olson’s description of these figures as "Water Boy" and their action of butting "their way in and out of every place of creation" evokes both persistence and disruption. The repetition of "all knees" suggests an awkwardness or humility, as though these figures are at once agents of creation and bound by its limitations.

Olson?s phrase "a sort of reverse apocatastasis" introduces a theological and philosophical layer. Apocatastasis, often associated with the restoration of all things to their original state, is inverted here, suggesting a disordered or subversive return. Olson’s imagery of "the tail?s where the head ought to be" underscores this reversal, presenting a world turned upside down, where progress and restoration are entangled in confusion and misplacement. The "Long Ears," likely referring to the ass, symbolize both stubbornness and the absurdity of this cosmic disorder.

The poem?s closing lines further emphasize a chaotic and indiscriminate energy: "they don?t shove. They shove all all directions." This paradoxical statement encapsulates the restless and contradictory nature of the forces at play. The repetition of "all" underscores the boundless and unfocused motion of these figures, suggesting that their actions are as much about disrupting order as they are about maintaining it.

Structurally, the poem moves in fits and starts, mirroring the stumbling and chaotic motion it describes. Olson’s use of enjambment and fragmented syntax creates a sense of momentum and disorientation, reflecting the instability and unpredictability of the cycles he examines. The language is dense with symbolism, requiring the reader to unpack layers of meaning and consider the interplay between myth, astrology, and human behavior.

Ultimately, "Year Is a Great Circle of the Year Is a Great Mistake" is a meditation on the tension between cyclical renewal and chaotic disruption. Through its vivid and often humorous imagery, the poem grapples with the contradictions inherent in human existence: the desire for progress versus the inevitability of repetition, the yearning for order versus the persistence of disorder. Olson?s exploration of these themes invites the reader to reflect on their own place within the great circle of time and the enduring challenge of navigating its complexities.

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