Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Wallace Stevens? "Attempt to Discover Life" is a vivid and enigmatic poem that delves into themes of transformation, fleeting presence, and the intersection of the mundane and the surreal. Set against the evocative backdrop of San Miguel de los Baños, the poem uses striking imagery and contrasting elements to create a layered meditation on existence, beauty, and impermanence. Through its fluid yet fragmented narrative, Stevens presents a moment of heightened sensory experience that invites multiple interpretations.

The poem opens with the vivid image of a waitress "heaping up black Hermosas" amid the "magnificence of a volcano." The mention of the black Hermosas—a type of tropical rose—establishes a lush and dramatic setting, blending natural beauty with a sense of grandeur and potential danger. The volcano, a symbol of latent power and transformation, contrasts with the carefully arranged flowers, suggesting a tension between order and chaos. The roses themselves are described as "blue and green, both streaked" and "shaded emerald on petals / Out of the deadliest heat," highlighting their exotic, almost otherworldly quality. This imagery sets the tone for a scene that transcends ordinary reality, imbued with an air of mystery and sensuality.

The arrival of the "cadaverous person" and the "brilliant and pallid-skinned" woman adds a spectral, almost gothic element to the scene. The cadaverous figure, with his bowing gesture, introduces an air of formality and unease, while the woman, described as having "fiery eyes and long thin arms," exudes a paradoxical combination of vibrancy and fragility. Together, they disrupt the serenity of the setting, bringing with them a sense of the uncanny. The woman’s actions—smiling and wetting her lips in the oppressive heat—emphasize her corporeality while simultaneously aligning her with the surreal transformation taking place around her.

The imagery of transformation intensifies as the roses begin to shift: "The green roses drifted up from the table / In smoke. The blue petals became / The yellowing fomentations of effulgence." This metamorphosis of the roses from tangible objects into ephemeral phenomena mirrors the fleeting and mutable nature of life itself. The term "fomentations" suggests a process of brewing or agitation, reinforcing the idea of something dynamic and alive. The colors—green, blue, and yellow—meld and evolve, evoking the alchemical processes of creation and decay. The roses, once tangible symbols of beauty, dissolve into an abstract interplay of light and color, underscoring the transience of the moment.

The departure of the cadaverous figures, described as being "dispelled," further reinforces the poem?s theme of impermanence. Their presence, while striking, is fleeting, much like the transient transformations of the roses. The coins left on the table—"dos centavos"—serve as a grounding detail, a reminder of the mundane world amidst the surreal imagery. Yet, even this detail carries symbolic weight: the coins could represent a token exchange, a payment for the experience, or a vestige of the figures’ ephemeral presence. Their small monetary value contrasts sharply with the richness of the scene, suggesting a disconnect between material worth and the intangible beauty or significance of the moment.

Stevens? use of sensory language throughout the poem enhances its immersive quality. The "heavy air" evokes a palpable sense of atmosphere, while the vibrant descriptions of color and texture draw the reader into the scene. The interplay of physical and ephemeral elements—roses transforming into smoke, figures appearing and disappearing—creates a dreamlike narrative that resists easy categorization. This resistance to definitive meaning is characteristic of Stevens? work, reflecting his belief in the fluidity and multiplicity of perception.

At its core, "Attempt to Discover Life" can be read as an exploration of the elusive nature of existence and beauty. The poem captures a moment of heightened perception, where the ordinary (a table in a café, a waitress arranging flowers) intersects with the extraordinary (the surreal transformations of the roses, the spectral presence of the figures). In this liminal space, Stevens invites readers to reflect on the transient and transformative aspects of life, where meaning is both created and dissolved in the act of observation.

The closing image of the coins—humble, static, and mundane—serves as a quiet counterpoint to the preceding visual and emotional intensity. It suggests that even in the midst of profound or surreal experiences, there is always an anchor to the ordinary, a reminder of life?s everyday rhythms. Yet, like the roses and the spectral figures, even these coins carry the weight of their own impermanence, leaving behind only the traces of what once was. Through its rich imagery and evocative shifts, "Attempt to Discover Life" offers a meditation on the ephemeral and the eternal, the tangible and the intangible, inviting readers to linger in the space between them.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...