Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Seeming" delves into the intricate dance between the ordinary and the extraordinary, exploring how daily actions and moments of illumination intertwine to shape our understanding of life. Through her reflective and evocative language, Rukeyser examines the profound significance found in everyday experiences and the subtle yet powerful transformations they bring about.

The poem begins with a contrast: "Between the illuminations of great mornings / there comes the dailiness of doing and being." This juxtaposition sets the stage for the central theme, where moments of clarity and insight ("great mornings") are framed by the routine and seemingly mundane tasks of daily life. The use of "illuminations" suggests that these mornings are not just ordinary but filled with a kind of spiritual or intellectual light that breaks through the regularity of existence.

Rukeyser continues to explore the nature of these daily activities: "and the hand as it makes as it brightens burnishes / the surfaces seemings mirrors of the world." Here, the poet highlights the transformative power of human action. The hand, a symbol of agency and creation, is depicted as both making and brightening the world, suggesting that our actions not only shape our reality but also reveal its underlying beauty and truth.

"We do not know the springs of these colored and loving / acts or what triggers birth what sleep is / but name them as we name bird-wakened morning / having our verbs of the world." These lines reflect on the mysteries of life and the fundamental actions that define our existence. Despite not fully understanding the origins or reasons behind these acts, we give them names and meanings, much like we do with the familiar sounds of a bird-wakened morning. This act of naming is a way of making sense of the world and our place within it.

The poem then lists a series of verbs: "to go, to grow, to flow, to shine, to sound, to glow, / to give and to take, to bind and to separate, / to injure and to defend." This litany of actions encompasses the full spectrum of human experience, from creation and connection to conflict and protection. It underscores the dynamic nature of life, where every action has its counterpart and contributes to the ongoing process of becoming.

"We do not even not even know why we wake / but some of us showing the others / a kind of welcoming / bringing a form to morning." These lines emphasize the inherent uncertainty of existence, yet also the communal and welcoming nature of human interactions. The act of waking, though mysterious, becomes meaningful through the ways we greet and shape our mornings and our lives.

Rukeyser further explores this idea of transformation and naming: "as a woman who recognizes / may offer us the moment and the names / turning all shame into a declaration / immediately to be followed by / an act of truth." Here, the poem suggests that recognition and naming are powerful acts that can transform shame into pride and lead to authentic actions. This transformation is a key part of how we navigate and understand our daily lives.

The poem concludes with a vision of illumination and revelation: "until all seemings are / illumination / we see in a man a theme / a dream taking over / or in this woman going today who has shown us / fear, and form, and storm turned into light." The idea of "seemings" becoming illumination suggests a shift from mere appearances to profound understanding. The individuals mentioned become embodiments of themes and dreams, turning fear and turmoil into sources of light and insight.

"The dailiness of our being and doing / morning and every time the way to naming / and we see more now coming into being / see in her goings as in her arrivings / the opening of a door." The final lines return to the daily routines, now seen as pathways to deeper understanding and naming. The "opening of a door" symbolizes new beginnings and opportunities for growth and discovery, highlighting the continuous process of becoming and understanding in our lives.

In "Seeming," Muriel Rukeyser masterfully weaves together the ordinary and the extraordinary, showing how our daily actions and moments of insight are deeply interconnected. Through her lyrical and thoughtful exploration, she invites readers to see the beauty and significance in everyday experiences and to recognize the transformative power of naming and understanding.

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