Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Handclap" delves into the complex interplay between the body and its inherent truths, and the inevitable betrayals that emerge from its actions. The poem opens with a powerful assertion: "The body cannot lie, but its betrayals, / narrower actions, cross even frontiers of night." Here, Rukeyser acknowledges that while the body itself is a vessel of truth, the actions it takes can betray deeper, more profound aspects of our being, penetrating even the most intimate and vulnerable moments of sleep.

The notion of betrayal is further emphasized in the lines, "and your most delicate treason falls in a quick stroke, / undercuts sleep." This suggests that even the smallest acts of treason—those subtle, often unconscious betrayals—can have a significant impact, disrupting the peace and vulnerability of sleep. The imagery of a "quick stroke" underlining the suddenness and decisiveness of such actions.

Rukeyser then transitions to a more reflective tone, contemplating the personal consequences of bodily betrayal: "Now, if I bodily sometime betrayed myself, / the foolish play’s curtain drops on your active exposure, / grotesque as a peepshow, definite as the axe / in instant effect." Here, she uses the metaphor of a play to describe the exposure of one's own betrayals. The curtain falling signifies the abrupt end of a façade, revealing the grotesque and undeniable truth behind it. The comparison to an axe underscores the immediacy and irrevocability of this revelation.

The poem then shifts to a vivid, natural image: "The toppling high tree lets fall its heavy side / green on the air, goes anyway down to ground / after a clap of weight resting—but we descend to / imperfect peace." This depiction of a falling tree symbolizes the inevitable descent and impact of betrayal. Despite the initial drama and noise ("a clap of weight resting"), what follows is not complete destruction but rather a return to an "imperfect peace." This suggests a form of reconciliation or acceptance, albeit flawed and incomplete.

The declaration "Here’s war!" signals a turn to conflict and struggle, both internal and external. The body, though betrayed, is described as exerting its nerves "to rise up whole, grasp the perpetual sun." This imagery evokes a sense of resilience and the relentless pursuit of wholeness and enlightenment despite the betrayals and conflicts faced.

The concluding lines of the poem, "Echo the shock, handclaps of fact composing / a blackest pattern, / a tyrant pace to dance, clatter of anger / spanking the fury up to publish treason, / ranting and clapping madness; while the dim / blood groans forever love," capture the tumultuous aftermath of betrayal. The "handclaps of fact" symbolize the harsh realities that punctuate and define the "blackest pattern" of betrayal. The "tyrant pace" and "clatter of anger" suggest a frenzied, almost ritualistic response to the realization of treason, with emotions running high and uncontrolled.

Despite the chaos and madness, the final note is one of enduring love. The "dim blood groans forever love" indicates that, even amidst betrayal and conflict, love remains a fundamental, if subdued, force within us. Rukeyser's poem thus navigates the complexities of bodily betrayal, the subsequent conflict, and the persistent, underlying presence of love. Through her vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, she captures the profound and often tumultuous experiences of the human condition.

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