Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer’s poem "Persephone Pauses" intricately weaves together classical mythology with modern sensibilities, reflecting on themes of transition, time, and the dualities inherent in life. The poem employs rich imagery and mythological references to Persephone, the Greek goddess associated with spring and the underworld, to explore the poet's introspective journey through light and darkness.

The poem opens with the poignant image of the narrator holding a letter, using the lengthened shadow of her hand to mark the passage of time: "The lengthened shadow of my hand / Holding a letter from a friend / Tells time: the sun descends again." This sets a contemplative tone, hinting at the inevitable decline of day into night, and metaphorically, life into death or periods of light into darkness.

Kizer reflects on the comfort derived from nature, even as it transitions: "Perhaps not happiness, but still / A certain comfort from the trees / Whose crests of leaves droop down in tiers." The trees and their changing state symbolize the acceptance of natural cycles, mirroring Persephone's own seasonal journey between the earthly realm and the underworld.

The narrator's acknowledgment of her past journeys—"I know, I know. I've gone before"—echoes Persephone's cyclical descent and return. The reflection in the "accustomed glass, / The shallow pond," represents a self-examination and recognition of the self's transformations, even as the "slime divides / Like curtains of old green velour," suggesting a peeling back of layers to reveal deeper truths.

The grim tragedian from the other shore, who "proffers me an iron plate / Of seedy fruit, to match my mouth," is a clear reference to Hades, Persephone's husband and the god of the underworld. The act of offering seedy fruit ties back to the myth of Persephone eating pomegranate seeds, which bound her to the underworld for part of the year. This exchange signifies the intertwining of desire and obligation, darkness and light.

The imagery of the "quivering oval, turned / Half-moon, away, away from him" emphasizes the tension between the narrator’s (or Persephone’s) allure and reluctance, encapsulating the complex emotions associated with her dual existence. The poem continues to explore the sensual and somber aspects of this mythological narrative: "My nerves dissolving in the gleam / Of night's theatrical desire."

As the poem progresses, the narrator embraces the inevitable descent into the metaphorical or literal underworld: "Come then, sweet Hell! I’ll name you once / To stir the grasses, rock the pool." This acceptance of both light and darkness, of life’s cycles and seasons, is profound and poignant.

The final lines, "I cast my letter to the breezed / Where paper wings will sprout, and bear / It on to that high messenger / Of sky, who lately dropped it here," signify a release and a farewell. The narrator acknowledges the duality of her existence—"That half my life is spent in light"—and bids goodnight to summertime, embracing the transition to the darker half of the year.

"Persephone Pauses" by Carolyn Kizer is a deeply reflective and evocative poem that beautifully captures the mythological and personal journey of moving between light and darkness. Through its rich imagery and thoughtful exploration of dualities, the poem invites readers to contemplate the cyclical nature of life and the profound acceptance of both its luminous and shadowed aspects.