Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Carolyn Kizer's "Cupid and Venus," a translation from the Scots of Mark Alexander Boyd, the poet presents a gritty and raw exploration of love and desire. The poem's narrative unfolds in the urban landscape, marked by its vivid and often stark imagery. The opening lines set the tone, depicting the speaker's restless movement through the city: "From bar to bar, from curb to curb I run, / From greasy alley walls I ricochet, / Blown over by my feeble fantasies / Till I drop like a roach from the linoleum." This imagery suggests a sense of aimlessness and desperation, as the speaker is propelled by his own fantasies and desires, ultimately leading to his downfall.

The presence of two gods, Cupid and Venus, introduces a mythological element to the poem, juxtaposing classical figures with the squalor of the modern urban environment. Cupid, typically associated with love and desire, is here portrayed as "a kid brought up to be a bum," a far cry from the cherubic figure of traditional mythology. This depiction of Cupid with a white cane hints at his blindness, symbolizing the blind pursuit of desire. Venus, the goddess of love, is described in even more visceral terms: "The gutter spawned the other one, a dame / Who roars like a rhino as she comes and comes." This portrayal subverts the conventional image of Venus, presenting her as a force of raw, almost animalistic, sexuality.

The poem's exploration of human behavior and the pursuit of love and pleasure is unflinching. The speaker's actions are depicted with a stark realism: "A man pursues unhappiness forever, / Spewing out poems to drunks in the saloon, / And jacking off in the men's room in between." This line underscores the futility and self-destructive nature of the speaker's quest for fulfillment. The use of coarse language and explicit imagery reinforces the sense of despair and the cyclical nature of his actions.

The poem reaches its climax with a reflection on the futility of chasing love: "But it's twice as bad to fool yourself that love / Leads anywhere: chasing that mad cunt up the stairs / As the kid, her blind pimp, eggs me on." Here, the speaker acknowledges the illusion of love as a guiding force, likening it to a mad pursuit. The metaphor of Cupid as a "blind pimp" further emphasizes the deceptive nature of desire and the manipulation inherent in this pursuit.

Structurally, the poem's form mirrors its chaotic content. The irregular rhyme scheme and meter reflect the disordered and tumultuous experience of the speaker. The language is direct and unembellished, contributing to the raw and unfiltered portrayal of the speaker's life and emotions.

In summary, Carolyn Kizer's "Cupid and Venus" offers a stark and unromanticized view of love and desire, contrasting mythological figures with the harsh realities of urban life. Through vivid imagery, coarse language, and an unflinching depiction of human behavior, the poem captures the futility and despair inherent in the pursuit of pleasure and love. The juxtaposition of classical and modern elements serves to highlight the timeless nature of these themes, while the poem's structure reinforces its chaotic and tumultuous narrative.