Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Hot Day in Agrigento" is a poem by Molly Peacock, first published in 1992 in her collection "Original Love." The poem draws inspiration from a hot summer day in Agrigento, a town in Sicily known for its ancient Greek temples.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker describing the heat and how it affects her senses: "The body wilted in its steamy cloak." She then goes on to describe the town of Agrigento, specifically the ancient Greek temples that dot the landscape. However, the focus of the poem soon shifts to the speaker's memories of a past love affair. She reminisces about how she and her lover explored the town together, feeling "like archaeologists in love." She then recalls the intimate moments they shared, describing the "kiss that traveled through the olive grove" and the "tender weight" of their bodies as they lay together.

The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that the memory of her lover will always be tied to the town of Agrigento, and that the heat and the temples will forever remind her of their time together.

At its core, "A Hot Day in Agrigento" is a poem about memory and the way that our experiences can become intertwined with the places we visit. The heat and the ancient temples of Agrigento serve as a metaphor for the intense passion and depth of emotion that the speaker feels towards her lover. The temples, with their ruins and memories of ancient love stories, also serve to underscore the transience of human relationships and the fleeting nature of love.

The poem also touches on the idea of the past being always present, as the speaker notes that the memory of her lover will always be tied to the town of Agrigento. This speaks to the power of memory and the way that the past can continue to shape and influence our present experiences.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "A Hot Day in Agrigento" is a free verse poem that is divided into three stanzas of varying length.
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid sensory imagery, particularly around the heat and the landscape of Agrigento. The descriptions of the ancient temples also create a sense of timelessness and history.
• Metaphor: The heat and the temples serve as metaphors for the intensity of the speaker's emotions and the fleeting nature of love.
• Allusion: The mention of the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento alludes to the town's rich history and the many love stories that have taken place there over the centuries.

Poem Snippet:

"The tender weight

of your body

pressing into me

in the afternoon heat."