Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's "Akiba: For the Song of Songs" is a lyrical meditation on desire, memory, and the eternal nature of love and poetry. Drawing from the rich symbolism and passionate themes of the biblical "Song of Songs," the poem intertwines the voices and experiences of the shepherd, the king, and the woman, creating a tapestry of holy desire and profound connection.

The poem opens with a recognition of the multiplicity of voices: "However the voices rise / They are the shepherd, the king, / The woman; dreams, / Holy desire." This acknowledgment sets the stage for a narrative that encompasses various perspectives and identities, unified by the common thread of desire. The "voices" represent not only the characters of the "Song of Songs" but also the universal expressions of love and longing.

Rukeyser emphasizes the inclusive nature of these voices, whether they are "many the dance around / Or body led by one body / Whose bed is green." This imagery evokes the sensual and fertile imagery of the "Song of Songs," where the natural world and human intimacy are intertwined. The green bed symbolizes both a place of rest and union, and the natural setting that nourishes desire.

The speaker declares a passionate defense of desire: "I defend the desire / Lightning and poetry / Alone in the dark city / Or breast to breast." This defense situates desire as a powerful, almost divine force, comparable to lightning and poetry—both intense, transformative, and illuminating. The phrase "Alone in the dark city / Or breast to breast" suggests that desire transcends physical circumstances, existing both in solitude and in intimate connection.

As a "Champion of light," the speaker embodies the wounded yet holy light: "I am / The wounded holy light, / The woman in her dreams / And the man answering." This self-identification with both the woman dreaming and the man answering highlights the interconnectedness of all roles in the dance of desire. It also emphasizes the dual nature of the poet as both the dreamer and the responder to dreams.

The poem further explores the divine and regal nature of those who engage in this holy desire: "You who answer their dreams / Are the ruler of wine / Emperor of clouds / And the riches of men." This portrayal elevates the participants in the drama of love to an almost mythic status, rulers of both earthly and celestial realms. The reference to wine, clouds, and riches reinforces the idea that desire and love are sources of profound wealth and power.

Rukeyser then connects the song of desire to the very act of creation: "This song / Is the creation / The day of this song / The day of the birth of the world." This powerful assertion links the act of singing about love to the genesis of existence itself, suggesting that desire is a foundational force in the universe. The idea that the song marks the birth of the world underscores the timeless and essential nature of love and poetry.

The poem also contemplates the endurance of desire through time: "Whether a thousand years / Forget this woman, this king, / Whether two thousand years / Forget the shepherd of dreams." Here, Rukeyser acknowledges the possibility of individual memories fading, but insists on the persistence of desire itself: "The desire will make / A way through the wilderness / The leopard mountains / And the lips of the sleepers." This imagery conveys the unstoppable and transformative power of desire, which can navigate any obstacle and bring life to even the dormant.

In the concluding lines, Rukeyser reiterates the sanctity and eternal nature of desire: "Holy way of desire, / King, lion, the mouth of the poet, / The woman who dreams / And the answerer of dreams." This litany of figures—the king, the lion, the poet, the dreamer—reinforces the poem's theme of interconnectedness and the sacredness of love and creativity.

The poem closes with a celebration of the delights of desire: "In these delights / Is eternity of seed, / The verge of life, / Body of dreaming." This final passage captures the generative power of love and desire, suggesting that in the pleasures of love, we find the seeds of eternity and the very essence of life itself.

"Akiba: For the Song of Songs" is a profound reflection on the nature of love, desire, and poetry. Rukeyser masterfully weaves together biblical allusions, sensual imagery, and philosophical meditations to create a work that speaks to the eternal human experience of longing and connection. Through this poem, she celebrates the enduring power of desire to inspire, transform, and sustain us.

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