Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"In Santa Maria del Popolo" is a poem by Thom Gunn that explores the themes of religion, art, and mortality. The poem was first published in 1966 as part of his collection "Positives."

Explanation:

The poem takes place in the Santa Maria del Popolo church in Rome, where the speaker is observing a painting of the Crucifixion. The speaker reflects on the beauty and power of the painting, as well as the complex emotions it evokes.

As the poem progresses, the speaker contemplates the role of art in our lives, and the ways in which it can help us grapple with the mysteries of life and death. The poem ultimately concludes with a sense of awe and reverence for the power of art to transcend the limitations of mortality.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "In Santa Maria del Popolo" is a free verse poem without a set rhyme or meter. The poem consists of six stanzas, each with varying line lengths and no consistent pattern of rhyme or rhythm. This form allows the poem to flow freely and naturally, with the language and imagery serving as the primary focus. The use of enjambment creates a sense of continuity and fluidity, reflecting the theme of the power of art to transcend the limitations of mortality.

• Imagery: "A blue robe on his shoulders," "the unflowering thorn," "the nailed feet of a thief"
• Allusion: The painting of the Crucifixion
• Metaphor: The painting as a symbol of the power of art
• Symbolism: The Crucifixion as a symbol of mortality and redemption

Conclusion:

"In Santa Maria del Popolo" is a powerful and evocative poem that invites readers to contemplate the role of art in our lives, and the ways in which it can help us grapple with the mysteries of life and death. The poem challenges us to consider the power of art to transcend the limitations of our mortality and connect us with something larger than ourselves.

Poem Snippet:

"Art can make visible, ever so slight,

Our refused disintegration, can provide

A slanting mirror, through which we see our plight

As something worthy, manageable, and lived."