Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Louise Gluck's "Phenomenal Survivals of Death in Nantucket" takes the reader on an emotional and psychological journey that explores themes of identity, mortality, and spiritual quest. The poem is structured in four sections, each dealing with different states of mind, ranging from dream to wakefulness, from the personal to the transcendental.

The first section opens with the speaker in Nantucket, confronting the sea as an "extension" of their troubled mind. In sleep, a shawled figure of "Saint Elizabeth" appears, offering the idea that human lives are mere "strands between the miracles of birth / And death." The vision is eerie yet insightful, with the character of Saint Elizabeth holding a basket of knives, which could symbolize the sharp realities or decisions that punctuate our lives from birth to death.

The second section ventures into the supernatural. The speaker recounts a night when a hurricane tore their ship apart. As the vessel sinks, the bones turned to coral still "smell / Amid forsaken treasure." Here, Gluck refers to the uncanny realm of the deep sea, almost as a metaphor for the subconscious mind or the world beyond life, full of "forsaken treasure"-perhaps forgotten memories or lost opportunities.

In the third section, the setting shifts to what seems to be a medical environment where the speaker is stripped of means that could potentially harm them, a probable nod to suicidal tendencies or deep depression. Saint Elizabeth returns in this segment, but this time she only carries "foodstuffs or some flowers for charity," portraying a less threatening figure, and one might argue, representing hope or survival. The speaker talks about "beach animals" in Nantucket, considering them "complacent angels of the land and air." It's a nuanced look at life in its simplest form, perhaps serving as a reminder that living is a miracle in itself.

The fourth section provides a sort of resolution. The speaker will "walk like a bride" with a locket containing their lover's hair, suggesting the transformative power of love, or the embracing of earthly attachments as a form of salvation. The speaker's future houses symbolize a reconciliation between earthly and otherworldly realms-"My first house shall be built on these sands, / My second in the sea."

"Phenomenal Survivals of Death in Nantucket" masterfully uses Nantucket as a geographical and metaphysical space where the complexities of the human mind and spirit are explored. It encompasses the turbulence of human emotion and thought, including the idea of mortality and the ethereal, while touching upon the potential for healing or acceptance. Gluck's keen use of imagery and narrative devices captivates the reader, as we journey through life's uncertainties, comforts, and the mysterious realms that lie beyond our everyday understanding.

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