Normally I think about what to write in my blog, and then write it. But this time, I’m going to try something new. I’ve read the poem twice, highlighting things that don’t make sense. I’m going to bullet them here, then, if applicable, briefly Google what information I can about them, and hopefully the revelation it leads too. Confident we’ll figure the rest out in class, I won’t spend long digger through various resources to find what I need, but here we go:
• “One of the six billion of her hungry and curious kind. Inside the backpack, dog-eared, full of illustrations.”
The number threw me at first, because I didn’t think this poem was that old (it’s not), and I thought there was much closer to seven billion people alive. Google says that only a little more than 20 years ago there were a billion people less alive. That clears that up.
I had no idea what “dog-eared” means. Neither does my dictionary. But Google says it refers to the folded down corner of a book. Which makes perfect sense, since it’s an adjective describing a book. So, is it mention to be descriptive, or imply that the book is commonly referenced?
• “She’s one of those who’s only hungry metaphorically.”
No comprendo here. I can’t even try to figure out if there is a metaphor I don’t get here, because it says there is . . . so, yeah, I don’t know what this means.
• Everything about Lucretius.
Apparently Lucretius was a Roman poet from around 1st century BC. Best known for his philosophical poem, “On the Nature of the Universe.” This is obviously Hass’ inspiration for the title of his own poem.
Wikipedia (I know) says that he begins his poem by invoking Venus, paralleling another reference Hass makes in his own poem.
Being mentioned several times, it was clear Lucretius was a fair part of the inspiration for Hass’ poem, but after reading about him briefly, it would seem he was nearly the sole inspiration.
• “God: about fished out. Haddock: about fished out”
I’m not entirely sure what the term “fished out” means here. Especially since God and a fish are mentioned together as being such.
• “Most of the ancient groves are gone, sacred to Kuan Yin and Artemis”
Kuan Yin, or Guanyin, is the Goddess of Mercy, and Artemis has much to do with nature and life. This still leaves me a little lost about how the two are correlated together, and how they tie into the story.
• “The blood of the rainbow boa curled in the earth’s core”
I feel like there is more to this line, but briefly Googling only brings up Hass’ poem.
• “The figure of three graces” (Appetite, Chaste Restraint, and Beauty, apparently)
Same as above, really. I don’t get this. I started hitting some really rough patches around this area.
• Several references to “the dance” or “dancing”
Tough to Google, so I’m lost.
• The last three lines
Ditto.
Overall, I liked this poem. I got the main overtone I feel. It had lots of reference to the agony of the planet, and perhaps human nature, too. There are quite a few things up for interpretation, and a good deal of thought provocation.
My favorite line, though I don’t think it’s particularly important to the poem, was this: “It must be a gift of evolution that humans can’t sustain wonder. We’d never have gotten up from our knees if we could.”
That’s quite epic. I hear a lot of Christian complain about God becoming “normal” to them, and how disappointing that is. And yes, God should never be plain to us . . . BUT the facet of human nature that makes Him become plain to us is absurdly necessary for a reasonable life. If we could keep it from working so well on Him, we’d probably be better off, but ‘tis life.
You are doing it. I like the way you work through the poem. I do think the line about sustaining wonder is pretty important to the poem.
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