Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry: Explained, CARMEL POINT, by ROBINSON JEFFERS

Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

CARMEL POINT, by ROBINSON JEFFERS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Carmel Point" is a poem by Robinson Jeffers, first published in 1948. It is a meditation on the beauty and power of nature, as well as the transience of human life. The poem takes place on Carmel Point, a scenic headland in California where Jeffers lived for many years.

Explanation:

The poem begins with a description of the rugged beauty of the Carmel coastline, with its steep cliffs and pounding surf. The speaker marvels at the power of the ocean, which has shaped the rocky shoreline over millions of years. He contrasts this ancient and enduring landscape with the fleeting lives of humans, who come and go like waves on the shore.

The speaker then turns his attention to a group of birds flying over the coastline, which he identifies as pelicans. He describes them as "graceful beasts" with "great wings" that carry them effortlessly over the waves. He sees in their flight a symbol of the freedom and beauty that can be found in the natural world.

The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker reflects on the destructive power of humans. He describes the "huge grooved blocks" that line the shoreline, remnants of a quarry that was once operated on the site. He contrasts the brutal methods used to extract the stone with the graceful flight of the pelicans, suggesting that human beings have lost touch with the natural world.

The poem concludes with a call to return to nature and to rediscover the beauty and power that can be found there. The speaker urges us to "turn our eyes / From the evil in the world" and to seek solace and inspiration in the wild and untamed beauty of the natural world.

Poetic Elements:

Form: The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no rhyme scheme.
Imagery: Jeffers uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the rugged coastline, the pelicans in flight, and the quarry with its "huge grooved blocks."
Symbolism: The pelicans are a powerful symbol of freedom and grace, while the quarry symbolizes the destructive and exploitative nature of human activity.
Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and reflective, with a sense of sadness and regret at the damage humans have done to the natural world.

Summary:

"Carmel Point" is a powerful meditation on the beauty and power of the natural world, and a lament for the damage humans have done to it. Jeffers' vivid imagery and powerful symbolism create a sense of awe and wonder at the rugged coastline and the pelicans in flight, while his contemplative tone invites the reader to reflect on our place in the world and our relationship with nature.

Poem Snippet:

"Here is a coast; here is a harbor;

Here, after a meager diet of horizon, is some scenery:

Impractically shaped and--who knows?--self-pitying mountains,

Sad and harsh beneath their frivolous greenery,

With a little church on top of one. And warehouses,

Some of them painted Caribbean vermillion,

Garrulous fishnets hanging drying against the wall

Of the turquoise sea-pounded cannery pier;

The inhabited manifold flats of the island

Facing each other like a ridiculous army

Of tombstones staring here and there, for it is