Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's "Akiba: The Way Out" is a powerful meditation on signs, symbols, and the profound journeys of humanity, drawing on historical and mythical references to explore themes of liberation, transformation, and the search for meaning. Through evocative imagery and layered metaphors, the poem weaves together a narrative that transcends time, linking ancient experiences with contemporary quests for understanding and freedom.

The poem begins with an assertion of the night being "covered with signs," highlighting the omnipresence of symbols in our lives: "The night is covered with signs. The body and face of man, / with signs, and his journeys." These signs are not just external but are embedded in human existence, marking our physical forms and the paths we take. The poem immediately establishes a connection between natural elements and divine or cosmic messages: "where the rock is split / and speaks to the water; the flame speaks to the cloud." This communication between elements suggests a world where everything is interconnected and imbued with meaning.

Rukeyser continues to emphasize the universality of these signs: "the red splatter, abstraction, on the door / speaks to the angel and the constellations." This image evokes the biblical story of Passover, where the blood on the doorposts signaled the angel of death to pass over the Israelites' homes, protecting them from the final plague. The signs extend to the very grains of sand on the sea floor, speaking "at last to the noon," indicating a deep, intrinsic connection between the minutiae of the world and the overarching forces of the cosmos.

The poem then introduces a historical and cultural dimension, referencing the long history of human suffering and liberation: "All night down the centuries, have heard, music of passage. / Music of one child carried into the desert; / firstborn forbidden by law of the pyramid." These lines allude to the story of Moses, the child saved from the Pharaoh's decree to kill all firstborn Hebrew males, who later leads his people out of Egyptian slavery. This narrative is emblematic of the broader human struggle for freedom and the transformative power of faith and perseverance.

Rukeyser's poem speaks to the collective human experience: "Music of those who have walked out of slavery. / Into that journey where all things speak to all things." This journey is characterized by an interconnectedness where "all creation being created in one image, creation." The poem rejects the notion of a linear progression from past to future, instead presenting a painful, present journey: "This is not the past walking into the future, / the walk is painful, into the present." The dance of life is not always visible or understood until much later, highlighting the often unrecognized or unappreciated nature of human struggle and resilience.

In a powerful reflection on communal and individual journeys, Rukeyser writes, "We knew we had all crossed over when we heard the song." This crossing over is not just physical but spiritual and emotional, a collective awakening and recognition of shared humanity and struggle. The poem acknowledges the diverse histories of various groups who have sought freedom: "the slaves refusing slavery, escaping into faith: / an army who came to the ocean: the walkers / who walked through the opposites, from I to opened Thou."

The poem also touches on the historical figure of Akiba, a renowned Jewish scholar who was martyred by the Romans: "Akiba rescued, secretly, in the clothes of death / by his disciples carried from Jerusalem." This story serves as a metaphor for the enduring spirit of resistance and the search for meaning even in the face of death. Akiba's journey is emblematic of the broader human quest for knowledge, love, and purpose.

Rukeyser's language is rich with images of natural elements and their symbolic significance: "rock, water, flame, cloud, or the floor of the sea, / the world is a sign, a way of speaking." The poem concludes with an open-ended question about discovery and the paths we take: "What shall we find? Energies, rhythms, journey. / Ways to discover. The song of the way in." This final line encapsulates the poem's central theme—the endless search for understanding and the ways in which we navigate the signs and symbols of our lives.

"Akiba: The Way Out" is a profound and evocative work that invites readers to contemplate the deeper meanings behind the signs and journeys of life. Rukeyser masterfully weaves together historical, biblical, and personal narratives to create a tapestry that speaks to the universal human experience of searching for freedom, meaning, and connection.

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