Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Meeting" captures the juxtaposition of mundane activities and profound emotions, exploring themes of love, longing, and the interplay between everyday life and deeper, more intimate experiences. Through her vivid imagery and evocative language, Rukeyser invites the reader to navigate the complexities of personal connections and the inevitable separation that accompanies them.

The poem opens with the seemingly ordinary action of checking the mail: "One o’clock in the letter-box / Very black and I will go home early." This simple act sets a quiet, reflective tone. The decision to "go home early" suggests a retreat from the external world into a more introspective space, perhaps in anticipation of engaging with a cherished, private matter.

As the speaker transitions from public to private life, there is a shift in attire that symbolizes a change in role or mood: "Now I have put off my dancing-dress / And over a sheet of distance write my love." Removing the dancing dress signifies leaving behind social performance and adopting a more introspective, sincere state of being. The act of writing love "over a sheet of distance" conveys the physical and emotional separation from the beloved, highlighting the theme of distance in relationships.

The speaker's observations of others contrast with her own emotions: "I walk in the city with my pride of theme / While the lean girls at their betrayal smiling / Dance, do their sea-green dance, and laugh in dancing." These "lean girls" embody a carefree, perhaps superficial joy that is at odds with the speaker's deeper, more contemplative state. The phrase "pride of theme" suggests a sense of self-awareness or purpose that sets the speaker apart from the dancing girls.

The poem transitions into a dreamlike reflection on a meeting by the ocean: "Early in the morning on a windy ocean. / My sleep opens upon your face to kiss and find / And take diversion of the meeting waters, / The flameless sky of peace, blue-sided white air." The imagery of the ocean and the peaceful sky creates a serene, almost ethereal setting for the intimate encounter. The speaker's sleep opening upon the beloved's face emphasizes the closeness and tenderness of their connection, while also hinting at the transient nature of dreams and encounters.

Separation is a recurring theme: "I leave you as the trivial birds careen / In separation, a dream of easy parting." The comparison to "trivial birds" suggests that the parting is seen as light and insignificant, yet there is an underlying sense of inevitability and loss. The door sailing away and ships moving into the real sea symbolize the movement away from fantasy and dreams into the harsh reality of separation.

The speaker anticipates a future reunion: "Let that far day arrive, that evening stain! / Down the alleys of the night I trail a cloak; / Field-dusk and mountain-dusk and final darkness— / Each absence brings me nearer to that night." The imagery of trailing a cloak through different dusks and darknesses emphasizes the journey through time and separation, each absence intensifying the longing for reunion.

The poem culminates in a powerful vision of desire and fulfillment: "When I stone-still in desire standing / Shall see the masked body of love enter the garden / To reach the night-burning, the perpetual fountain. / And all the birds fly out of my scene." The "masked body of love" entering the garden signifies the long-awaited arrival of the beloved, bringing the promise of eternal, unquenchable passion symbolized by the "night-burning, the perpetual fountain." The departure of the birds marks the end of trivial distractions, allowing the speaker to fully immerse in the profound experience of love.

"Meeting" is a rich and evocative poem that delves into the emotional landscapes of love, separation, and the anticipation of reunion. Rukeyser's use of contrasting imagery and the interplay between mundane activities and profound emotions create a deeply resonant exploration of the human condition and the complexities of intimate relationships.

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