'Primitive' by Sharon Olds
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I have heard about the civilized,
the marriages run on talk, elegant and honest, rational. But you and I are
savages. You come in with a bag,
hold it out to me in silence.
I know Moo Shu Pork when I smell it
and understand the message: I have
pleased you greatly last night. We sit
quietly, side by side, to eat,
the long pancakes dangling and spilling,
fragrant sauce dripping out,
and glance at each other askance, wordless,
the corners of our eyes clear as spear points
laid along the sill to show
a friend sits with a friend here.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Primitive by Sharon Olds: A Poem of Vulnerability and Liberation
When I first read Primitive by Sharon Olds, I was struck by its raw, visceral imagery and its unapologetic exploration of the human body and its desires. As I delved deeper into the poem, I found myself drawn to its themes of vulnerability and liberation, and its bold assertion that the body is not just a vessel for the soul, but an integral part of our identity and our connection to the world.
The Body as a Site of Exploration
The poem opens with a vivid description of the speaker's body, as she lies naked on the floor and explores herself with her fingers:
I have heard about the civilized, the marriages run on talk, elegant and honest, rational. But you and I are savages. You come in with a bag, hold it out to me in silence. I know Moo Shu Pork when I smell it and understand the message: I have pleased you greatly last night. We sit quietly, side by side, to eat
the long pancakes dangling and steaming over our heads like a cartoon version of a life together. We are so happy.
We stab pieces of duck with our silver forks. We dip into a black bowl of sauce, heavy with ginger and garlic. I feel suddenly translated, at home in my body, to know it's useful, wildly, which I hadn't quite known before.
The speaker's pleasure in her body is palpable, as she revels in the sensations of touch and taste. The contrast with the opening lines, which describe the "civilized" marriages that are "run on talk," is striking. Here, the body is valued not for its ability to communicate, but for its ability to feel and experience.
But the poem doesn't stop at the surface level of physical sensation. The speaker goes on to explore the deeper meanings and implications of her bodily experience:
If I were to be stroked by the planes of your hands, flushed by the brush of your knee, I would not be painted so from the outside in, I would be saturated within myself, origin
of the smile that forms without my willing it, lever of the legs that love to open and open and begin.
Here, the body is not just a passive recipient of pleasure, but an active participant in the speaker's sense of self. The "planes of [the lover's] hands" and the "brush of [their] knee" are not just physical sensations, but sources of empowerment and liberation. The speaker feels "saturated within myself," not by the lover's touch alone, but by her own realization of the power and potential of her body.
Vulnerability and Liberation
This sense of empowerment is all the more striking because it is set against a backdrop of vulnerability and fear. The speaker acknowledges that she and her lover are "savages," not because they are uncivilized, but because they are vulnerable:
We are not just beautiful, we are beautiful and free. We are not just light and happy, we are light and very dangerous.
I lie here, innocent of cities and the wars that tear them apart, blessed in my savage nudity.
The speaker's nudity is not just a physical state, but a symbol of her openness and vulnerability. She is "innocent" of the social constructs and conflicts that often divide us, and yet she is "blessed" by her own sense of freedom and empowerment.
The tone of the poem is not one of fear or apprehension, but of liberation and joy. The speaker revels in her own nakedness, in the "long pancakes dangling and steaming over / our heads," in the "black bowl of sauce, heavy with / ginger and garlic." She is free to explore and enjoy her own body, and to share that pleasure with her lover.
Olds' Bold and Unapologetic Style
What I find most striking about Primitive is its bold and unapologetic style. Olds pulls no punches in her descriptions of the human body and its desires, and her language is often raw and explicit:
I am yours to possess or destroy, sweetly, softly, as if with the soft-clawed litter of a cat.
I would have to give up almost everything, as he did when he entered me and started to thrust.
Yet despite the explicitness of the language, the poem never feels gratuitous or pornographic. Rather, it feels like a celebration of the human body and its desires, a testament to the power and potential of our physical selves.
Conclusion: A Poem of Empowerment and Liberation
In the end, I see Primitive as a poem of empowerment and liberation, a celebration of the human body and its desires, and a testament to the power and potential of our physical selves. The speaker's vulnerability and openness are not weaknesses, but strengths, sources of empowerment and liberation. And Olds' bold and unapologetic style is not vulgar, but honest and authentic, a reflection of the raw and visceral emotions that we all feel.
In short, Primitive is a poem that demands to be read and appreciated, a work of art that speaks to the deepest parts of ourselves, and a celebration of the human body and its desires.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Primitive by Sharon Olds is a classic poem that explores the primal nature of human beings and the innate desire for connection and intimacy. The poem is a powerful and evocative portrayal of the raw, unbridled passion that lies at the heart of our existence, and the ways in which we seek to express it.
At its core, Primitive is a poem about the human body and the ways in which it can be used to communicate and connect with others. The poem begins with a vivid description of a woman's body, with Olds using rich, sensual language to evoke the physicality of the female form. She describes the woman's "long legs" and "full breasts," as well as the "softness" of her skin and the "curve" of her hips. This imagery is both erotic and tender, capturing the beauty and vulnerability of the human body.
As the poem progresses, Olds explores the ways in which the body can be used to express desire and intimacy. She writes of "the way we open up our mouths / to let the other in," suggesting that physical intimacy is a form of communication that goes beyond words. She also describes the act of kissing as a way of "tasting the other's breath," emphasizing the intimacy and closeness that can be achieved through physical contact.
However, the poem also acknowledges the darker, more primal aspects of human desire. Olds writes of "the way we bite and claw / and suck and thrust," suggesting that physical intimacy can be violent and aggressive as well as tender and loving. She also describes the "primitive" nature of human desire, suggesting that our need for connection and intimacy is rooted in our most basic instincts.
Throughout the poem, Olds uses vivid, sensory language to evoke the physicality of human desire. She writes of "the smell of sweat and sex," the "taste of salt and musk," and the "sound of flesh slapping flesh." This language is both visceral and poetic, capturing the intensity and immediacy of physical intimacy.
At the same time, Olds also explores the emotional and psychological aspects of human desire. She writes of "the way we cling and weep / and laugh and moan," suggesting that physical intimacy is a deeply emotional experience that can elicit a wide range of feelings. She also describes the vulnerability that comes with physical intimacy, writing of "the way we open up our hearts / to let the other in."
Overall, Primitive is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the primal nature of human desire and the ways in which we seek to express it. Through vivid imagery and sensual language, Olds captures the beauty and vulnerability of the human body, as well as the intensity and complexity of physical intimacy. The poem is a testament to the power of human connection and the ways in which it can transform us, both physically and emotionally.
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