Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer's poem "Plaint of the Poet in an Ignorant Age" is a witty and poignant reflection on the poet's longing for a deeper connection with nature and knowledge in an era that feels disconnected and superficial. Through vivid imagery and humorous lamentation, Kizer explores the poet's desire for companionship in intellectual and natural pursuits.

The poem opens with the poet’s whimsical wish for a "flower-boy," someone who would assist in identifying and appreciating the flora of an untamed wood: "I'd sit in the mid of an untamed wood / Away from tame suburbs beyond the trees. / With my botany-boy to fetch and find." This image evokes a pastoral ideal, contrasting sharply with the poet's current reality. The "rocker by a pot of cold coffee" and "notebook on my knee" suggest a solitary and contemplative life, but one that lacks the vibrancy and knowledge the poet craves.

Kizer's use of playful language continues as she imagines calling out to her flower-boy: "Calling, 'Flower-boy, name me that flower! / Read me the tag on that tree!'" The simplicity and innocence of this wish highlight the poet’s yearning for a return to a more curious and engaged relationship with the natural world.

The poem's tone shifts to one of irony and disappointment as the poet reflects on her current state: "But here I sit by an unlit fire / Swizzling three martinis / While a thousand metaphors doze outdoors, / And the no-bird sings in the no-name tree." The "unlit fire" and "three martinis" symbolize a sense of detachment and disillusionment. The "thousand metaphors" that "doze outdoors" represent missed opportunities for poetic inspiration, and the "no-bird" and "no-name tree" underscore a loss of connection and understanding.

The poet’s wish for a "bug-boy" with "a bug-book and a butterfly net" further emphasizes the longing for an intimate exploration of nature: "To bring me Nature in a basket of leaves: / A bug on a leaf by the gold-fish bowl." The imagery here is rich and detailed, reflecting a deep appreciation for the small wonders of the natural world. The poet imagines engaging with the bug-boy in a playful and educational manner, "Cracking nuts, jokes, and crying to my bug-boy, / 'Read me the caterpillar on the leaf, / Count the number of nibbled veins / By tree's light, in fire!'"

The desire for a "boy of Latin and Greek / In love with eleven-syllable leaves" introduces a longing for intellectual companionship: "Hanging names like haloes on herb and shrub! / A foot-note lad, a lexicon-boy / Who would run in a wreath around my rocker." This vision of a learned companion who can provide the linguistic and botanical knowledge the poet seeks underscores the poem's theme of intellectual and cultural disconnect in the modern age.

However, the poet's reality is quite different: "But all I have is a poetry-boy, / A bottle-cap king who cries, / Thudding from the garden, 'What do you call / The no-bird, that sings in the no-name tree?'" This final stanza highlights the poet’s frustration with the superficiality and ignorance that seem prevalent. The "poetry-boy" who collects bottle caps instead of engaging with deeper knowledge or nature represents a generation disconnected from the richness of language and the natural world.

"Plaint of the Poet in an Ignorant Age" is a beautifully crafted poem that captures the poet's yearning for a deeper, more meaningful engagement with nature and knowledge. Through vivid imagery and a tone that balances humor with lament, Carolyn Kizer articulates a timeless struggle for intellectual and aesthetic fulfillment in a world that often seems indifferent to such pursuits.