Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Joseph Brodsky's poem "Exeter Revisited" is a complex and layered narrative that unfolds within the intimate setting of Sparky's Cafe, where a game of chess serves as the backdrop for an exploration of time, memory, and identity. The poem delves into the sense of 'being' across different temporalities and geographies, all the while probing the limitations and complications of personal and collective histories.

The poem opens with a specific but mundane scene: a game of chess played "on the oil tablecloth at Sparky's / Cafe." However, it's not just any game; the narrator is playing "against your specter," indicating an absence or a memory. The presence of the "specter" introduces a spectral time-space where the past and the present coalesce. This is further emphasized by the reference to "seven years later," suggesting that the narrator is deeply entangled with memories and how they have aged or transformed over time.

This specter is a powerful symbol of something or someone haunting the narrator's present-be it a past lover, a younger self, or an old friend. The element of time is highlighted in the lines "seven years later and pints of semen / under the bridge," which may point toward lost potential or wasted time. The continuous power supply to the "dust-plagued shamrock" fan suggests that some aspects of life remain unchanging, "apparently not unplugged," despite the passage of time.

The chess game itself, described with the term "gambit," adds another layer of meaning. In chess, a gambit is a move in which a player risks one piece to gain an advantage, and this seems to symbolize the choices and sacrifices made in life. Is remembering the past or holding onto a particular identity a gambit? If so, what is gained or lost in the process?

Then comes a string of questions that seem to challenge the concepts of belonging and identity: "What does it take to pledge allegiance / to another biography, ocean, creed?" These questions underscore the uncertainties related to changing one's place, beliefs, or even narrative history. Is it a simple matter of legalities ("The expiration date on the Indian Deed") or a spiritual offering ("A pair of turtledoves, two young pigeons")? The choice of examples, especially the "Indian Deed," adds a political and historical layer, prompting the reader to consider the larger structures that define or confine personal histories.

The imagery of the "Atlantic" and the "town hall cupola" in the final lines symbolizes larger-than-life forces-nature and institutions-that influence individual lives. The Atlantic's "long-brewed invasion" that looks "self-defeating" suggests that even overwhelming forces may not achieve their intended impact. Similarly, the "town hall cupola" is anthropomorphized as a motherly figure "still breast-feeding / its pale, cloud-swaddled Lux," signifying the sustaining yet potentially stifling role of civic institutions.

In summary, "Exeter Revisited" by Joseph Brodsky is a rich tapestry of images, symbols, and questions that explore the intricacies of memory, time, and identity. It speaks to the universality of human experience while simultaneously exposing the particularities that make each life unique. Through a blend of personal and collective elements, the poem opens up a multi-dimensional space for reflection and interpretation.

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