Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"How Long I've Been Tapping Around, You Can See by the Heel" by Joseph Brodsky is an introspective poem that delves into themes of time, existentialism, and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe. The narrative voice is consumed with the passage of time, reflected in the wear on the speaker's heel, and the complications of existing within that framework.

The poem opens with a visual metaphor-the worn heel-as an indicator of life's journey. It immediately sets a tone of fatigue and world-weariness. This weariness extends to the mind; the speaker is unable to rid himself of troubling thoughts, symbolized by "the forehead fallen askew strand." This image suggests that no matter how hard one tries, some thoughts remain stubbornly entrenched, clouding one's perception and muddling one's sense of self.

Brodsky employs imagery like "Cobweb finger" and "dark thoughts" to highlight the grim aspects of life. These symbols represent the existential cobwebs that cloud our judgment, making it challenging to see the world clearly. The darkness of thought becomes something almost physical, a weight one must bear, much like the wearing down of a heel over time.

As the speaker explores the notion of dreams or aspirations, he is cynical. He articulates that it's better not to dream of anything "to be less," implying that unfulfilled dreams only clutter our lives, another form of existential debris. This stoic perspective indicates a deep disillusionment with the act of dreaming or aspiring, further intensifying the poem's bleak outlook.

The poem also touches on the impersonal nature of existence through the metaphor of the "Beggar quarter window." The beggar is an eyesore, but he also represents the forgotten, the overlooked aspects of life. The speaker notes that faces are remembered, not thoughts, underscoring the external focus of society and the essential loneliness of human existence.

In the closing lines, the room becomes "a shaman circling," suggesting a sense of ritualistic but empty movement. The speaker feels as if he is being wound "like a ball" over emptiness, yearning to understand something more profound, something that only "God knows." It can be inferred that the speaker grapples with the lack of objective meaning in life and is drawn towards spirituality or the divine as a last resort to make sense of it all.

"How Long I've Been Tapping Around, You Can See by the Heel" offers a deep, somber meditation on the futility and solitude inherent in the human condition. Through stark imagery and an evocative narrative voice, Brodsky crafts a disquieting yet compelling examination of time's wear on both the body and soul. The poem captures the essence of existential questioning, prompting the reader to confront their own notions of time, existence, and the pursuit of meaning.

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