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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

WHO IN ONE LIFETIME, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Who in One Lifetime" is a stark and contemplative reflection on the cumulative impact of personal and societal losses experienced over a lifetime. The poem delves into themes of helplessness, disillusionment, and resilience, portraying a figure who witnesses the crumbling of ideals and the pervasive nature of suffering, yet manages to maintain a fragile belief in life.

The poem opens with a sweeping declaration of despair: "Who in one lifetime sees all causes lost, / Herself dismayed and helpless, cities down." These lines establish the speaker's profound sense of powerlessness as they observe the collapse of cherished causes and the devastation of cities, symbolic of broader societal decay and destruction. This imagery sets a tone of relentless loss and disillusionment.

The next lines, "Love made monotonous fear and the sad-faced / Inexorable armies and the falling plane," juxtapose love, typically a source of solace, with fear, suggesting that even love has been tainted by the pervasive dread of the era. The "sad-faced inexorable armies" and the "falling plane" evoke the inevitability and futility of war, emphasizing the constant presence of conflict and its destructive consequences.

Rukeyser then turns inward, exploring the personal toll of these experiences: "Has sickness, sickness. Introspective and whole, / She knows how several madnesses are born." The repetition of "sickness" underscores the overwhelming and pervasive nature of physical and emotional illness. The speaker's introspection leads to an understanding of the genesis of various forms of madness, suggesting a deep awareness of the fragility of the human mind under constant stress and trauma.

The lines "Seeing the integrated never fighting well, / The flesh too vulnerable, the eyes tear-torn" reflect on the ineffectiveness of those who strive for unity and integration, highlighting their struggles and the vulnerability of the human body and spirit. The imagery of "tear-torn" eyes emphasizes the continual sorrow and the emotional toll of witnessing and experiencing such profound losses.

The poem then shifts to a broader societal perspective: "She finds a pre-surrender on all sides: / Treaty before the war, ritual impatience turn / The camps of ambush to chambers of imagery." This suggests that even before conflicts arise, there is a sense of inevitable defeat and resignation. The transformation of "camps of ambush to chambers of imagery" implies a shift from active resistance to passive contemplation, highlighting a loss of will to fight.

Despite these overwhelming adversities, the speaker maintains a belief in life: "She holds belief in the world, she stays and hides / Life in her own defeat, stands, though her whole world burn." This resilience is striking, as it illustrates the speaker's determination to preserve a sense of life and hope even amidst utter devastation. The metaphor of a "childless goddess of fertility" captures the paradox of being a symbol of life and potential while being personally bereft and barren, symbolizing the tension between hope and despair.

"Who in One Lifetime" is a powerful meditation on the enduring impact of a lifetime of losses and the struggle to maintain belief and resilience. Rukeyser's use of vivid imagery and introspective language creates a poignant portrait of a figure who, despite being engulfed by overwhelming sorrow and disillusionment, continues to hold on to a fragile hope, embodying the complex interplay between despair and resilience in the human experience.


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