'Underneath (9)' by Jorie Graham
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Spring
Up, up you go, you must be introduced.
You must learn belonging to (no-one)
Drenched in the white veil (day)
The circle of minutes pushed gleaming onto your finger.
Gaps pocking the brightness where you try to see
in.
Missing: corners, fields,
completeness: holes growing in it where the eye looks hardest.
Below, his chest, a sacred weightless place
and the small weight of your open hand on it.
And these legs, look, still yours, after all you've done with them.
Explain the six missing seeds.
Explain muzzled.
Explain tongue breaks thin fire in eyes.
Learn what the great garden-(up, up you go)-exteriority,
exhales:
the green never-the-less the green who-did-you-say-you-are
and how it seems to stare all the time, that green,
until night blinds it temporarily.
What is it searching for all the leaves turning towards you.
Breath the emptiest of the freedoms.
When will they notice the hole in your head (they won't).
When will they feel for the hole in your chest
(never).
Up, go. Let being-seen drift over you again, sticky kindness.
Those wet strangely unstill eyes filling their heads-
thinking or sight?-
all waiting for the true story-
your heart, beating its little song: explain. . .
Explain requited
Explain indeed the blood of your lives I will require
explain the strange weight of meanwhile
and there exists another death in regards to which
we are not immortal
variegated dappled spangled intricately wrought
complicated obstruse subtle devious
scintillating with change and ambiguity
Summer
Explain two are
Explain not one
(in theory) (and in practice)
blurry, my love, like a right quotation,
wanting so to sink back down,
you washing me in soil now, my shoulders dust, my rippling dust,
Look I'll scrub the dirt listen.
Up here how will I
(not) hold you.
Where is the dirt packed in again around us between us obliterating difference
Must one leave off Explain edges
(tongue breaks) (thin fire)
(in eyes)
And bless. And blame.
(Moonless night.
Vase in the kitchen)
Fall
Explain duty to remain to the end.
Duty not to run away from the good.
The good.
(Beauty is not an issue.)
A wise man wants?
A master.
Winter
Oh my beloved I speak of the absolute jewels.
Dwelling in place for example.
In fluted listenings.
In panting waters human-skinned to the horizon.
Muzzled the deep.
Fermenting the surface.
Wrecks left at the bottom, yes.
Space birdless.
Light on it a woman on her knees-her having kneeled everywhere
already.
God's laughter unquenchable.
Back there its river ripped into pieces, length gone, buried in parts, in
sand.
Believe me I speak now for the sand.
Here at the front end, the narrator.
At the front end, the meanwhile: God's laughter.
Are you still waiting for the true story? (God's laughter)
The difference between what is and could be? (God's laughter)
In this dance the people do not move.
Deferred defied obstructed hungry,
organized around a radiant absence.
In His dance the people do not move.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Underneath (9) by Jorie Graham: A Deeper Look
Have you ever read a poem that left you feeling as if you were standing on the brink of a great unknown, like you were looking out at a horizon that stretched on for miles and miles? Jorie Graham's "Underneath (9)" is one of those poems. It's the kind of work that makes you feel small and insignificant, but also filled with awe and wonder.
At first glance, "Underneath (9)" seems like a simple poem. It's only nine lines long, and the language is straightforward. But as you dig deeper, you'll find that there's a lot more going on beneath the surface. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes of time, impermanence, and the human condition that lie at the heart of the poem.
The Poem:
Here's the poem in its entirety:
One day unmistakenly
the great clear light
will shine on everything;
and then the outlines
will begin to tremble,
will blur,
will flow into
one another.
The Theme of Time:
The first thing that stands out about "Underneath (9)" is its preoccupation with time. The poem is structured around the idea that there will be a moment in the future when "the great clear light will shine on everything." This moment is a metaphor for the end of time, the point at which all things will be illuminated and everything will be revealed.
But what's interesting about this moment is that it's not a moment of finality. Rather, it's a moment of transition. The outlines of things "will begin to tremble, / will blur, / will flow into / one another." This is an image of things falling apart, of boundaries dissolving, of the world as we know it coming undone.
It's a powerful image, and it speaks to the way that time erodes all things. No matter how great or grand or permanent something might seem, eventually it will be subject to the ravages of time. This is a theme that runs throughout much of Graham's work, but it's particularly poignant in "Underneath (9)."
The Theme of Impermanence:
Linked to the theme of time is the theme of impermanence. "Underneath (9)" is a poem that is deeply concerned with the transitory nature of all things. The image of everything flowing together and becoming one is an image of impermanence, of the way that all things dissolve and become something else.
This theme is reinforced by the language that Graham uses. The word "unmistakenly" suggests a kind of certainty, but it's a certainty that is grounded in the knowledge that all things are impermanent. The "great clear light" that will shine on everything is a metaphor for the truth that lies beneath the surface of all things, the truth that everything is in a constant state of flux.
This theme of impermanence is something that Graham explores in many of her poems, and it's a theme that resonates deeply with readers. After all, we all know that nothing lasts forever. We all know that we are all subject to the ravages of time. And we all know that eventually, everything will fall apart.
The Theme of the Human Condition:
One of the most interesting things about "Underneath (9)" is the way that it relates to the human condition. On the surface, the poem seems to be about the end of time and the impermanence of all things. But if you look a little deeper, you'll see that it's also a poem about the way that human beings confront the inevitability of their own mortality.
The lines "will begin to tremble, / will blur, / will flow into / one another" suggest a kind of dissolution, a kind of melting away of all things. But they also suggest something else. They suggest a kind of release, a letting go of all the things that we cling to in order to give our lives meaning and purpose.
In this way, "Underneath (9)" is a poem about the way that human beings confront the great unknown. It's a poem about the way that we all must face the inevitability of our own deaths, and about the way that we all must come to terms with the fact that everything we hold dear will one day pass away.
Conclusion:
"Underneath (9)" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition in a profound way. It's a poem that is preoccupied with themes of time, impermanence, and the way that human beings confront the inevitability of their own mortality. But it's also a poem that is full of beauty and wonder, a poem that reminds us that even in the face of the great unknown, there is still beauty to be found in the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Underneath (9) by Jorie Graham is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its depth and complexity. The poem is a reflection on the nature of existence and the human experience, and it explores themes of identity, mortality, and the search for meaning. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and imagery to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
Structure
The poem is structured in nine stanzas, each consisting of nine lines. This structure is significant because it creates a sense of order and symmetry, which contrasts with the chaotic and uncertain nature of the poem's subject matter. The repetition of the number nine also adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the poem, as if there is something hidden or secret that we are meant to uncover.
Language
The language in Underneath (9) is rich and evocative, with a mix of abstract and concrete imagery. The poem is full of metaphors and similes that create a sense of depth and complexity. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the world as "a room with no windows," which suggests a sense of confinement and isolation. This metaphor is then extended in the second stanza, where the speaker describes the world as "a box with no lid," which reinforces the idea of being trapped or contained.
Throughout the poem, the language is also marked by a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker often uses phrases like "it seems" or "perhaps" to qualify their statements, which creates a sense of doubt and questioning. This uncertainty is particularly evident in the final stanza, where the speaker asks, "What is it we are waiting for?" This question is left unanswered, leaving the reader to ponder the meaning of the poem and the nature of existence itself.
Imagery
The imagery in Underneath (9) is both vivid and abstract, with a mix of natural and man-made elements. The poem is full of contrasts and contradictions, such as the juxtaposition of "the sea and the city" in the third stanza. This contrast creates a sense of tension and conflict, as if there is a struggle between the natural and the artificial.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the world as "a room with no windows." This image is particularly powerful because it suggests a sense of confinement and isolation, as if we are trapped within our own existence. This image is then extended in the second stanza, where the speaker describes the world as "a box with no lid." This image reinforces the idea of being trapped or contained, and it suggests that there is no escape from our own mortality.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of "the sky as a mirror." This image is significant because it suggests a sense of reflection and self-awareness. The speaker seems to be suggesting that we are constantly looking at ourselves and trying to understand our own existence. This image is then extended in the seventh stanza, where the speaker describes "the mirror as a sky." This reversal of the image creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, as if we are unsure of our own identity and place in the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Underneath (9) by Jorie Graham is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of existence and the human experience. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all work together to create a sense of depth and complexity, and the poem leaves the reader with a sense of uncertainty and questioning. Ultimately, the poem suggests that there is no easy answer to the question of what it means to be alive, and that we must continue to search for meaning and purpose in our own lives.
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