Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Voyager," Carolyn Kizer presents a compelling and vivid narrative that explores themes of heroism, failure, and the disillusionment of a journey. The poem is structured into three sections, each delving into different aspects of the protagonist's odyssey, reflecting on the experiences and emotions of a once-great commander who is now a broken man, haunted by his past and the failures of his expedition.

The first section begins with the protagonist's return to shore, where he is met with a mix of curiosity and fear from children, symbolizing his transition from myth to reality. The image of "digging my claws in sand" and the children’s reactions set the tone for the poem, highlighting the contrast between the grandeur of his legend and the stark reality of his present state. The "women came running, hauled me up, then clung / Like faded pennons to my broken rigging" evokes the image of a weathered and dilapidated ship, further emphasizing his fallen state.

The protagonist reflects on the past, recalling how the women who now assist him were once "bitter girls / Flinging farewells at us, like pelting stones / At a retreating army." This imagery captures the sense of betrayal and abandonment felt by those left behind, as well as the protagonist’s own feelings of failure and disillusionment. The detailed descriptions of the military camp— "the many thousand men, the tents, the stallions, / The muscled armorers hammering at the forge"—create a vivid picture of a grand and ambitious endeavor that ultimately led to ruin. The protagonist's sense of loss and confusion is palpable as he questions the fate of the great General and the outcome of the war.

In the second section, the poem shifts to the failed return journey. The protagonist’s orders to abandon the search for the lost army reflect a pragmatic decision made in the face of insurmountable odds. The imagery of the sea and the "curving bay / Shaped like a siren's mouth" suggests the deceptive allure of their homeland, which remains just out of reach. The descent into a jungle-like environment, where "roots toiled our feet like snakes, became snakes," symbolizes the entangling and treacherous nature of their path. The vivid descriptions of the jungle’s dangers, including the "dropped shield on a log" and the "soft hinge / Of closing flower jaws," evoke a sense of entrapment and decay.

The protagonist's reflection on the crew's plight, as they become "puppets to the dirt" and succumb to the elements, underscores the hopelessness of their situation. The transformation of their surroundings into an apocalyptic landscape, with "seas upended" and "skies dropped mud / Like excrements of Gods," amplifies the sense of chaos and despair. The poem’s depiction of the crew’s final moments, as they "fell to the ground, to join our dust to dust," captures the inevitable collapse of their efforts.

The third section introduces the Navigator, a figure who embodies the failed guidance and false hope of the journey. His futile attempts to use a map with "rivers silted up" symbolize the lost direction and the futility of their quest. The Navigator’s death, followed by the crew’s descent into madness and cannibalism, marks the ultimate degradation of the expedition. The shift from a quest for glory to mere survival is starkly portrayed, with the winter bringing "crashing armor" and the crew resorting to using the dead for sustenance.

The protagonist's final reflection, as he is rescued and becomes an old man recounting his tale, reveals a deep sense of disillusionment. His recognition that "you face the Hero, breath to breath, / And know no more than he what victory was" underscores the hollow nature of their supposed heroism. The poem concludes with a somber acknowledgment of the futility of their journey and the empty legacy left behind.

"Voyager" by Carolyn Kizer is a powerful meditation on the themes of heroism, failure, and the human condition. Through rich imagery and a compelling narrative, Kizer captures the tragic arc of the protagonist’s journey, from the heights of ambition to the depths of despair. The poem’s exploration of the tension between myth and reality, and the inevitable disillusionment that follows, offers a poignant reflection on the nature of human endeavor and the often-painful truths that lie beneath the surface of our greatest aspirations.