Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "Penelope's Song" by Louise Gluck presents an exploration of anticipation, longing, and the intricate complexities of love. The poem is ostensibly a monologue by Penelope, the wife of Odysseus from Homer's epic "The Odyssey," yet Gluck's Penelope is far from the patient, obedient wife awaiting her husband's return. Instead, she grapples with her desires, imperfections, and an agency of her own.

The opening lines of the poem set the stage for Penelope's interior monologue. She refers to her soul as a "little perpetually undressed one," revealing vulnerability and a sense of exposure. She then instructs this soul to "climb / The shelf-like branches of the spruce tree" to serve as a "sentry or look-out." Here, the soul is both separate and part of Penelope, a component of her own self-awareness and longing for Odysseus's return.

"Generous" and "Perfect" are heavy words in the poem; they serve to outline Penelope's own shortcomings and vulnerabilities. "You have not been completely / Perfect either; with your troublesome body / You have done things you shouldn't / Discuss in poems," she says, acknowledging her own flaws and hinting at forbidden desires or actions that have taken place during her husband's absence. This humanizes her, making her less a mythic figure and more a representation of the complexities of fidelity and desire.

The poem crescendos with Penelope's dark, soulful song, which she likens to the voice of Maria Callas, the famed opera singer known for her passionate delivery. She calls out "over the open water, over the bright / Water," emphasizing the distance and separation she feels. The words "dark," "grasping," and "Unnatural" reveal an intense yearning, which is not just for reunion but for a communion that acknowledges her in all her complexity.

Penelope envisions her husband's return "from wherever he goes in the / Meantime, / Suntanned from his time away, wanting / His grilled chicken." In these lines, Gluck adds a modern, somewhat mundane touch, reminding us that the essence of human desires and relationships has not significantly changed since ancient times. Even heroes long for simple things like "grilled chicken," and even legendary love stories are made up of mundane moments and domestic concerns.

The final lines of the poem come as a caution, as Penelope advises her soul to "shake the boughs of the tree / To get his attention, / But carefully, carefully, lest / His beautiful face be marred / By too many falling needles." Even as she prepares to welcome Odysseus, there's a recognition of the fragile balance that must be maintained. Love, in its intensity, can cause harm; and Penelope's own complexity-her dark song, her imperfections-may bring her what she desires but at a risk.

"Penelope's Song" is a nuanced portrait of a woman often idealized for her faithfulness, but here depicted in all her textured humanity. Gluck manages to delve into the emotional depths of a character frozen in mythic time, offering readers a nuanced study of what it means to love, to wait, and to be imperfectly human.

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