Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Gary Snyder’s "Facts" is an unadorned, starkly presented list of economic and ecological statistics that, in their cumulative weight, form a critique of industrial civilization, resource consumption, and global economic disparity. Unlike Snyder’s more lyrical and meditative poems, "Facts" operates through the power of stark information—its title signaling a rejection of sentimentality or abstraction. Yet, in its arrangement and selection of details, the poem does more than merely inform; it forces the reader to confront the interconnectedness of global trade, energy dependence, economic inequality, and environmental limits.

The poem’s structure is simple, a numbered list that reads like a series of data points, but Snyder’s selection of these facts reveals an underlying narrative of excess, exploitation, and impending crisis. The opening statistic—"92% of Japan’s three million ton import of soybeans comes from the U.S."—immediately situates the poem in a globalized economic framework. Japan’s dependency on American agriculture highlights the ways in which food production has become an international, industrial-scale operation, where nations are no longer self-sufficient but instead enmeshed in a system of export-driven monocultures. Implicit in this fact is the ecological cost: the vast soybean fields of the American Midwest exist at the expense of biodiversity, traditional farming methods, and soil health, all to sustain a demand that extends beyond national borders.

The next two facts focus on American consumption: "The U.S. has 6% of the world’s population; consumes 1/3 the energy annually consumed in the world." The imbalance is staggering, reinforcing the idea that the American way of life is predicated on an unsustainable level of resource extraction. Similarly, "The U.S. consumes 1/3 of the world’s annual meat." links dietary habits to larger environmental and ethical concerns. Meat production is one of the most resource-intensive agricultural practices, requiring vast amounts of land, water, and feed. Snyder’s inclusion of this fact points to the ways in which Western diets—particularly those centered on high meat consumption—are deeply tied to ecological degradation.

The focus then shifts to economic disparity: "The top 1/5 of American population gets 45% of salary income, and owns about 77% of the total wealth. The top 1% owns 20 to 30% of personal wealth." This statistic, presented without commentary, lays bare the extreme concentration of wealth in the U.S., a country that often presents itself as a land of opportunity. By positioning this fact within a broader discussion of consumption and energy use, Snyder implicitly links wealth inequality to environmental destruction—those who consume the most are also those who profit from an extractive economy.

Fact number five looks ahead to a looming crisis: "A modern nation needs 13 basic industrial raw materials. By AD 2000 the U.S. will be import-dependent on all but phosphorus." The specificity of "13 basic industrial raw materials" suggests a fundamental vulnerability—modern industry is built on finite resources, many of which are already being depleted. The phrase "import-dependent" underscores the fragility of this system, in which the United States, despite its economic power, is reliant on foreign nations to sustain its industrial base. This foreshadowing of resource scarcity anticipates the geopolitical tensions and ecological struggles that would become even more pressing in the 21st century.

The sixth fact—"General Motors is bigger than Holland."—is striking in its simplicity and absurdity. By equating a single corporation to an entire nation, Snyder highlights the immense concentration of economic power in multinational companies, suggesting that corporations have taken on a scale and influence that rivals sovereign states. This also alludes to the way industrial capitalism, particularly the automotive industry, has shaped not just economies but entire landscapes, infrastructures, and modes of living.

The following facts move into energy and corporate power. "Nuclear energy is mainly subsidized with fossil fuels and barely yields net energy." This statement cuts through the popular perception of nuclear power as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, revealing that it is not self-sustaining but deeply entangled in the very systems it claims to replace. The mention of subsidies also hints at the hidden costs of nuclear power, both financial and ecological.

The reference to the "Seven Sisters"—the seven major oil companies that dominated global petroleum production throughout much of the 20th century—places energy production within the framework of corporate monopolization. Exxon, Mobil, Texaco, Gulf, Standard of California, British Petroleum, and Royal Dutch Shell controlled the flow of oil, shaping economies, dictating foreign policies, and contributing to environmental destruction. By listing these corporations without additional commentary, Snyder allows their names to stand as a symbol of industrial dominance, reinforcing the themes of extraction and power.

The penultimate fact quotes H.T. Odum, an influential ecologist: "The reason solar energy has not and will not be a major contributor or substitute for fossil fuels is that it will not compete without energy subsidy from fossil fuel economy. The plants have already maximized the use of sunlight." This statement underscores a central tension in the debate over renewable energy—solar power, while abundant, does not fit neatly into the existing fossil fuel-driven economy. The phrase "The plants have already maximized the use of sunlight" is particularly significant, suggesting that nature has already optimized energy efficiency in ways that human technology struggles to replicate. This insight reinforces the idea that industrial civilization, rather than harnessing nature’s wisdom, often works against it.

The final fact—"Our primary source of food is the sun."—ends the poem with a return to fundamental truth. After moving through statistics of consumption, corporate power, and energy dependency, Snyder brings the reader back to the most essential reality: all life is ultimately dependent on sunlight. This line, in its simplicity, serves as both a reminder and a challenge. It suggests that, despite the complexity of industrial systems, the basic truth of existence remains unchanged—our survival is tied to the energy that comes from the sun, whether through photosynthesis, food chains, or atmospheric balance. In contrast to the preceding facts, which depict a civilization out of sync with ecological limits, this final statement offers a glimpse of an alternative perspective, one that acknowledges the deeper, more enduring forces that sustain life.

"Facts" is a poem that resists traditional poetic devices, relying instead on the stark presentation of information. Yet, in its arrangement and selection of details, it becomes more than just a list—it is an indictment of consumption, inequality, and industrial dependence. Snyder’s choice to conclude with a reference to the sun suggests that, despite the overwhelming nature of these statistics, there remains a fundamental connection to the natural world that cannot be erased. The poem’s power lies in its restraint, in its refusal to editorialize. Instead, it presents the world as it is, leaving the reader to reckon with the weight of these truths and the implications they carry for the future.

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