Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

George Oppen's "Exodus" is a succinct yet emotionally charged poem that intertwines the theme of childhood with the concept of miraculous events and, by extension, faith. The poem explores the complex layers of understanding that develop when stories from the religious text of Exodus are imparted to children. In a scant number of lines, Oppen delves deep into the very core of human relationships, particularly between parent and child, and the nature of faith and interpretation.

The opening line "Miracle of the children the brilliant / Children the word" sets the stage by encapsulating a sense of wonder and reverence often associated with childhood. The use of the word "miracle" in reference to children suggests a reverence for the innocence and inherent wisdom they possess, making them almost divine in their purity. In saying "the word / Liquid as woodlands," the poet conjures a sense of nature, fluidity, and transience, as though the 'word' - perhaps the word of God or the essence of life itself - is as elusive yet as natural as a woodland stream.

The second stanza introduces a pivotal moment when the speaker reads the story of the Exodus from the Bible to his daughter. The phrase "Pillar of fire / Pillar of cloud" refers to the means by which God led the Israelites out of Egypt, symbolizing divine guidance and protection. But this moment takes a turn when we read, "We stared at the end / Into each other's eyes." The act of looking into each other's eyes suggests a moment of deep contemplation or a silent understanding between parent and child.

That understanding is shaken when the daughter asks, "Were the adults." Her question is left incomplete, yet it implies a host of other unspoken questions and doubts. Why do the stories focus so much on the "children of Israel" but say so little about the adults? Could it be that children, in their wisdom and purity, are more deserving of miracles than their adult counterparts?

This brings us back to the theme of miraculous events. The poem closes with a repetition of the word "Miracle," accentuating the element of awe and wonder but also questioning the very nature of miracles. Is the true miracle the biblical story of the Exodus, or is it the relationship between parent and child, their ability to question, ponder, and dream?

What's particularly effective about the poem is how it leaves us hanging on the final word "of," an incomplete thought that opens up an arena of possibilities and interpretations. The ambiguity reflects the complexities of faith, the incompleteness of human understanding, and the endless questions that are born out of our interactions with texts and with one another.

In summary, "Exodus" is a potent poetic exploration of faith, relationships, and the complexities inherent in both. With great economy of language, George Oppen captures the essence of a moment and broadens it into a universal dialogue about what it means to believe, to question, and to exist in the human condition.

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