Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Hidden Ones," John Hollander delves into the mystical and often unsettling presence of unseen forces in nature, blending vivid imagery with a deep exploration of the hidden and the sacred. The poem moves through different elements—woods, fields, water, and twilight—each revealing a layer of the unseen, evoking a sense of both wonder and foreboding.

The poem begins with a vivid scene of panic in the woods, capturing the chaos and fear embodied by a "bewildered / Buck in the maddened moon-color of stumps." This imagery immediately sets a tone of confusion and disturbance, with the buck smashing through "deadened / Timber," creating a sense of violence and desperation. The listener, presumably human, is clutching to this scene, perhaps both fascinated and terrified by the raw power of nature.

Hollander then shifts to a calmer but equally mysterious scene: "no wet goat-horns hid among the dark, / Acknowledging, sacred branches." This suggests a mythical presence, perhaps a reference to the god Pan or other nature deities, who remain unseen yet influential. The "wild surge of panic's name" implies that these hidden beings are still active, maintaining their own rituals and festivals away from human sight.

The poem continues to explore the idea of waiting and watching, with "They who wait, wait / Behind the hoardings of ramshackle words." This line suggests that there are truths and entities hidden behind the facade of language and human understanding. The mention of "Mother Golden in the cereal field" introduces a nurturing, almost divine figure who "burnishes the grain and dross," imbuing the natural world with sacred significance. Her actions, "breathing rough / Aspirations amongst dancing straws," convey a sense of life and vitality infused into the mundane.

Hollander introduces a "Deus in the graciousness of day," a god-like figure who embodies the sky and its movements. This being, "drunk with skyeyness," moves between high spaces, bearing human "gains and losses." This image reinforces the interconnectedness of the divine and the earthly, suggesting that the divine shapes human experiences and emotions.

The poem then turns to water, describing "Undinal flanks" that glide and sink, hinting at mythical water beings or spirits. These beings are connected to "Father Form," a paternal figure who shapes their "uncertain substance." The daughters, moving through water in various forms—tears, raindrops, waves—highlight the fluidity and ever-changing nature of the hidden forces at play.

Even in the seemingly ordinary act of walking, Hollander finds traces of these hidden ones. The "rare walker" encounters "warning / Splashes of faltering, unreal light," and the "alarming ring surrounding / Lamplight itself" is made of their dance. This dance, though unseen, creates an atmosphere of unease and wonder, suggesting that the hidden ones are always present, influencing the world from the shadows.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of the "unwintered heart" that reaches out with "trembling hands made of the eye's last glance." This suggests a moment of revelation or epiphany, where the hidden ones reveal themselves to those who are open and perceptive enough to see them. The trembling hands signify both fear and awe, capturing the dual nature of encountering the divine or the unknown.

In "The Hidden Ones," John Hollander masterfully intertwines natural and mythical imagery to explore the presence of unseen forces in the world. The poem's rich language and evocative scenes invite readers to look beyond the surface and consider the deeper, often hidden connections between nature, divinity, and human experience. Through this exploration, Hollander reveals the profound mystery and sacredness that lie beneath the ordinary, urging a recognition of the unseen forces that shape our world.

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