Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Getting and Spending" by Linda Gregerson is a rich and layered poem that delves into themes of value, gender, authorship, and the interplay between the material and the spiritual. By drawing on the historical context of Isabella Whitney's "The maner of her Wyll" from 1573, Gregerson explores how women navigate and articulate their worth in a world that often marginalizes their voices.

The poem opens with a reflection on the traditional understanding of the soul's significance: "We’re told it was mostly the soul / at stake, its formal / setting-forth, as over water." This notion of the soul being the primary concern contrasts with the material world, where "words-on-paper make / a sort of currency, which heaven, / against all odds, accepts." The metaphor of words as currency suggests that written expressions, especially those concerning the soul, hold intrinsic value even in a divine economy.

Gregerson introduces the concept of a will, both as a legal document and as an expression of personal intention: "So Will, which is to say, May what / I purpose, please, this once, and what / will happen coincide." The dual meaning of "will" underscores the tension between personal agency and societal constraints, particularly for women.

The poem then addresses the limitations placed on women in terms of inheritance and expression: "What / the law considered yours / to give. Which in the case of / women was restricted—this was / long ago, and elsewhere." The historical context of women's limited legal rights highlights the broader theme of gender inequality. Gregerson emphasizes that despite being "confessedly 'weak / of purse,'" women like Isabella Whitney found ways to assert their voices and critique societal norms.

Whitney's boldness in addressing the material world and its "faithlessness" is celebrated: "And turn, our Isabella Whitney, / to the city and its faithlessness. Whose / smells and sounds...all / the thick-laid, lovely, in-your-face-and-nostrils stuff / of getting-by." This vivid imagery captures the bustling, gritty reality of urban life, which Whitney unflinchingly portrays. Her willingness to engage with the city's tangible aspects defies the expectation that women should remain detached from such realities.

The second section of the poem shifts focus to the dynamics of urban life: "Wattle and brickwork. Marble and mud. / The city’s vast tautology. No city / without people and no people but / will long for what the city says they lack." Gregerson explores the cyclical nature of desire and fulfillment within the city, where people constantly seek what they perceive to be missing. This pursuit encompasses both material and intangible needs, such as "high ceilings, gloves and laces, news, / the hearth-lit circle of friendship, space / for solitude, enough to eat."

The poem then highlights the interconnectedness of urban existence: "And something like a foothold in the whole-of-it, / some without-which-not, some / little but needful part in all the passing- / from-hand-to-hand of it." This interconnectedness means that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger tapestry of city life. By observing and documenting these interactions, individuals like Whitney slow down the erasure of these moments into "the blank / oblivion of never-having-been."

Gregerson concludes by celebrating Whitney's authorship and its legacy: "From which she wrested, in her open / I-am-writing-not-for-fun-but-for-the-money / way of authorship, a world / not just of plenty but—and here’s / the part of that’s legacy—of love." Whitney's unapologetic approach to writing for financial necessity is framed as an act of reclaiming agency and creating a legacy that encompasses both material and emotional richness.

"Getting and Spending" by Linda Gregerson masterfully intertwines historical context, vivid imagery, and reflective narrative to explore themes of value, gender, and authorship. Through the lens of Isabella Whitney's work, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which individuals navigate and articulate their worth in a world that often seeks to marginalize them. Gregerson's exploration of these themes highlights the enduring struggle for recognition and the power of the written word to assert presence and significance.