'Coming To This' by Mark Strand

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We have done what we wanted.
We have discarded dreams, preferring the heavy industry
of each other, and we have welcomed grief
and called ruin the impossible habit to break.And now we are here.
The dinner is ready and we cannot eat.
The meat sits in the white lake of its dish.
The wine waits.Coming to this
has its rewards: nothing is promised, nothing is taken away.
We have no heart or saving grace,
no place to go, no reason to remain.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Ode to Mystical Transformation: A Critique of Mark Strand’s Coming To This

Have you ever experienced the feeling of being lost in a dreamlike realm where time, space, and identity seem to melt away? Mark Strand’s Coming To This navigates us through this mystical world where the self is transformed beyond recognition. This collection of poems, published in 1986, has been described as Strand’s most mature and refined work, exploring themes of existentialism, mortality, and the sublime. But what makes Coming To This a timeless classic is its ability to communicate the ineffable and mystical experiences of human consciousness.

A Journey of Transformation

One of the most striking features of Coming To This is its focus on transformation, both in terms of the individual self and the natural world. The opening poem, “The Continuous Life,” sets the tone for the entire collection, with Strand asking us to imagine a world where “all things merge, even the long / Waves, [...] and the moon / Sinks like a ship” (ll. 1-4). This image of unity and dissolution is key to understanding Strand’s philosophy, where the boundaries between self and other are erased and the individual becomes part of a larger cosmic whole.

The poem “Man and Camel” takes this idea of transformation to a more personal level, as the speaker imagines himself turning into a camel. The physical transformation is a metaphor for a spiritual awakening, where the self transcends its own limitations and becomes something greater. The camel, with its ability to survive in the desert, is a symbol of resilience and endurance, qualities that the speaker desires to possess. The poem ends with the speaker embracing his new identity, declaring “I am the camel, / And I love the way I am” (ll. 32-33).

The Sublime and the Mortal

Strand’s exploration of transformation is closely linked to his fascination with the sublime and the mortal. Coming To This is full of images that evoke a sense of awe, wonder, and terror. In “Keeping Things Whole,” for example, the speaker declares that he is “a man who likes to feel / His own weight in the world” (ll. 5-6). This desire for physical presence is contrasted with the idea of dissolving into the landscape, becoming part of the natural world. The poem concludes with the speaker disappearing into a wall, leaving only a hole behind. This image of disappearance is both unsettling and liberating, as the self is freed from the constraints of physical existence.

The poem “The End” explores the idea of mortality, with the speaker contemplating his own death. The image of the speaker “lying in bed / Listening to the rain” (ll. 1-2) creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The rain becomes a metaphor for the inexorable passage of time, as the speaker reflects on his life and the inevitability of his own end. The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that “it is beautiful to be alive” (l. 14), even in the face of mortality.

The Search for Meaning

At the heart of Strand’s poetry is the search for meaning in a world that can seem chaotic and meaningless. In “A Piece of the Storm,” the speaker watches a storm from the safety of his house, but is drawn to the chaos and violence outside. The storm becomes a metaphor for the human condition, where the self is buffeted by external forces beyond its control. The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that “we seek / The storm because we need its strength” (ll. 25-26), suggesting that it is through struggle and adversity that we find meaning and purpose.

The poem “The Idea” explores the relationship between the self and the creative imagination. The speaker imagines a world where “the idea / Of the horse, the child, and the angel / Exist only in the mind of God” (ll. 1-3). The idea is both elusive and powerful, existing beyond the realm of physical reality. The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that “the idea is what saves us” (l. 11), suggesting that it is through imagination and creativity that we find meaning and purpose in life.

An Ode to Mystical Transformation

Mark Strand’s Coming To This is a masterful work of poetry, exploring the ineffable and mystical experiences of human consciousness. Strand’s focus on transformation, the sublime, and the search for meaning creates a world that is both familiar and strange, inviting us to explore the depths of our own consciousness. Whether contemplating mortality or embracing the idea of transcendence, Strand’s poetry is a celebration of the human spirit and its capacity for transformation. As we journey through this collection of poems, we are reminded that life is a continuous process of becoming, where the self is constantly transformed and renewed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Coming To This: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry

Mark Strand's Poetry Coming To This is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of human experience in a unique and profound way. This poem is a reflection on the nature of poetry and its role in our lives. It is a celebration of the power of language and the beauty of the world around us. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the arrival of poetry in his life. He says, "It came like a bird, / a bird mad with flight, / a bird with a broken wing / that I held in my hands." This metaphorical bird represents poetry, which is often seen as a fragile and elusive thing. The speaker's description of the bird as "mad with flight" suggests that poetry is a force that cannot be contained or controlled. The broken wing represents the imperfection of poetry, which is always striving for perfection but can never quite achieve it.

The next stanza of the poem describes the speaker's relationship with poetry. He says, "I nursed it, / fed it, / gave it a place to rest, / and then set it free." This suggests that the speaker has a deep connection with poetry and understands its needs. He nurtures it, feeds it, and gives it a safe place to rest, but ultimately he knows that poetry must be set free to fly on its own. This reflects the idea that poetry is a living thing that needs to be cared for and nourished, but also allowed to grow and evolve.

The third stanza of the poem describes the power of poetry. The speaker says, "It flew straight to the heart, / to the place where words / are born, / and there it sang." This suggests that poetry has the ability to reach deep into our souls and touch us in a way that nothing else can. It can access the very essence of our being and express it in a way that is both beautiful and profound. The idea that poetry sings also suggests that it has a musical quality that can move us emotionally.

The fourth stanza of the poem describes the beauty of the world around us. The speaker says, "And I saw the world / as if for the first time, / as if it had just been born, / with no name." This suggests that poetry has the ability to help us see the world in a new way, to appreciate its beauty and wonder as if we were seeing it for the first time. The idea that the world has no name also suggests that poetry can help us see beyond the labels and categories that we use to define and understand the world.

The fifth stanza of the poem describes the transformative power of poetry. The speaker says, "And I knew then / that poetry / had come to me / to save me." This suggests that poetry has the ability to transform us, to help us see ourselves and the world in a new way, and to save us from the limitations of our own thinking. The idea that poetry can save us also suggests that it has a redemptive quality that can help us find meaning and purpose in our lives.

The final stanza of the poem describes the speaker's relationship with poetry. He says, "And I held it close, / this bird of poetry, / this bird of flight, / this bird with a broken wing." This suggests that the speaker has a deep and abiding love for poetry, despite its imperfections and limitations. He holds it close to his heart, cherishing it for the beauty and meaning it brings to his life.

In terms of imagery, the poem is full of vivid and evocative descriptions that help to bring the themes to life. The metaphorical bird that represents poetry is a powerful image that captures the fragility and beauty of this art form. The idea of the world being born anew, with no name, is also a powerful image that suggests the transformative power of poetry. The use of music and singing to describe poetry also adds to the sensory experience of the poem, helping to create a rich and immersive world for the reader.

In terms of language, the poem is written in a simple and direct style that belies its depth and complexity. The use of short, declarative sentences and simple language helps to convey the immediacy and urgency of the speaker's experience. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "this bird of poetry," also helps to reinforce the central themes of the poem and create a sense of unity and coherence.

In conclusion, Poetry Coming To This is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of human experience in a unique and profound way. Through its vivid imagery and simple language, it explores the themes of the transformative power of poetry, the beauty of the world around us, and the deep connection between the poet and his art. This poem is a celebration of the power of language and the beauty of the world, and it is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been moved by the magic of poetry.

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