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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

COMMENTARY ON ORANGE, by                 Poet's Biography

John Hollander's "Commentary on Orange" is a reflective and playful exploration of color, perception, and transformation. Through the character of Roy G. Biv, a personification of the colors of the rainbow, Hollander delves into the philosophical and physical properties of color, its significance, and its metaphorical implications.

The poem opens with a dramatic declaration: "Orange dies out in the ascending fire," roared our grayish remainder; "Gold is a dream of lead," said Roy G. Biv. This sets the stage for a contemplation of color and transformation, suggesting that orange, a vibrant color, fades away in the intensity of fire, while gold, often associated with value and purity, is merely an aspirational form of lead, a common and base metal.

The interplay between gold and lead becomes a central theme: "When gold can be alloyed to form a working metal, then the Order of Ages will be changed." This statement hints at alchemical transformations and the ancient quest to turn base metals into gold, a process symbolizing both physical and spiritual purification. However, the skeptical voice counters, "But only when it is as common as copper," suggesting that true transformation and value are elusive.

The repeated exchanges between different voices, including Roy G. Biv, sages, and thieves, underscore the subjective nature of value and perception: "Gold is gold," say the sages. "Lead is lead," say the thieves. "What's lead is gold and what's gold is lead," says Roy G. Biv. This relativistic view reflects the complexity and ambiguity of determining worth and meaning in both material and abstract terms.

Hollander introduces a scientific perspective with the statement, "All the colors are fractions of white. All the colors burn up in the unseen higher vibrations of glory." This alludes to the fact that white light contains all colors, which can be separated through refraction. The higher vibrations of light that are not visible to the human eye symbolize realms of existence and understanding beyond ordinary perception.

Roy G. Biv's lament, "But when I muddied them all in a sty of pigments, when I put them all in the dish and mixed and mixed, all I got was the leaden tone of earth," captures the difference between the pure, refracted colors of light and the physical blending of pigments, which often results in a dull, earthy tone. This contrast highlights the gap between ideal forms and their imperfect, earthly manifestations.

The poem then transitions to a contemplation of permanence and transience: "The gleaming of their ruined gold outlasts the kingdoms. / 'But the mud and the rock around it will prevail,' insists the lustreless plumber; 'Hurrah for the dull,' says Roy G. Biv." This dialogue reflects the idea that while the brilliance of gold may endure, the fundamental, mundane elements of the earth ultimately persist and prevail.

In the closing lines, Hollander introduces a painterly perspective: "The painter said: 'If one were to imagine a bluish orange, it would have to feel like a southwesterly north wind.' 'No, that would be a reddish green,' said the other painter." These imaginative descriptions of impossible colors underscore the subjective and elusive nature of perception and artistic interpretation.

The poem concludes with a blessing: "Blessed art thou who bringest forth fruit of the bronze: bells and pomegranates, thunder and lightning. Blessed art thou who brought forth nought of the lead, save Roy G. Biv." This benediction celebrates the creative and transformative power that transcends the mundane, embodied by Roy G. Biv, the personification of the rainbow and the spectrum of visible light.

"Commentary on Orange" is a richly textured poem that weaves together themes of alchemy, perception, artistic creation, and the philosophical nature of value and transformation. Through the playful and insightful character of Roy G. Biv, Hollander invites readers to reflect on the multifaceted nature of color and the deeper truths it can represent.


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