Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"On" by Bob Kaufman is a sprawling, evocative poem that explores various facets of American life and culture through a series of vivid, fragmentary snapshots. Each line captures a different "corner" or aspect of society, offering a critical, sometimes surreal perspective on the modern world. The poem's structure, with each line beginning with "On," serves as a litany that catalogues the disparate elements of contemporary existence, highlighting the disillusionment and fragmentation characteristic of the Beat Generation's critique of postwar America.

The poem begins with "On yardbird corners of embryonic hopes, drowned in a heroin tear." This line sets a melancholic tone, juxtaposing the promise of "embryonic hopes" with the despair of addiction ("heroin tear"). The reference to "yardbird corners" invokes both the colloquial term for young jazz musicians and the nickname of the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker ("Yardbird" Parker), whose life was marked by both musical genius and heroin addiction. This line encapsulates the tension between creative potential and destructive tendencies.

Kaufman continues with "On yardbird corners of parkerflights to sound filled pockets in space," further emphasizing the jazz motif. "Parkerflights" likely refers to the improvisational journeys of Charlie Parker's music, described here as explorations of "sound filled pockets in space." This imagery conveys the transcendent nature of jazz, capable of transporting both musician and listener beyond mundane realities.

The poem moves through various societal critiques, such as "On neuro-corners of striped brains & desperate electro-surgeons," highlighting the invasive and dehumanizing aspects of modern medicine and psychiatry. The "striped brains" could symbolize the compartmentalization of the mind, while "desperate electro-surgeons" evoke the controversial practices of electroconvulsive therapy and other treatments.

"On alcohol corners of pointless discussion & historical hangovers" addresses the escapism and futility often found in alcohol-fueled conversations, as well as the lingering consequences of past actions ("historical hangovers"). This line critiques the cyclical nature of indulgence and regret.

Kaufman satirizes the blandness and artificiality of mainstream culture with lines like "On television corners of cornflakes & rockwells impotent America," where "cornflakes" and "rockwells" (referring to the idealized paintings of Norman Rockwell) symbolize the sanitized, commercialized version of American life. The phrase "impotent America" suggests a lack of vitality and authenticity in this portrayal.

The poem's critical eye extends to academia, religion, politics, and consumerism. Lines like "On university corners of tailored intellect & greek letter openers" and "On religious corners of theological limericks" critique the superficiality and performative aspects of higher education and organized religion. "On military corners of megathon deaths & universal anesthesia" and "On political corners of wanted candidates & ritual lies" address the destructive and deceitful nature of military and political institutions.

Kaufman continues to explore cultural phenomena with lines like "On advertising corners of filter-tipped ice-cream & instant instants," satirizing the triviality and immediacy of consumer culture. "On teen-age corners of comic book seduction and corrupted guitars" speaks to the influence of media on youth, suggesting a loss of innocence and authenticity.

The poem also delves into more personal and philosophical territories: "On love divided corners of die now pay later mortuaries" reflects on the commodification of love and the inevitability of death. "On philosophical corners of semantic desperadoes & idea-mongers" critiques the often pretentious and self-serving nature of intellectual discourse.

Kaufman concludes with a poignant image: "On lonely poet corners of low lying leaves & moist prophet eyes." This final line evokes the solitude and introspection of the poet, who observes and reflects on the world with a heightened sensitivity and a sense of melancholy.

"On" captures a broad spectrum of societal and cultural observations, offering a fragmented but deeply insightful commentary on the state of America. Through a series of concise, evocative images, Bob Kaufman explores the contradictions, disillusionments, and absurdities of modern life, highlighting the pervasive sense of alienation and the search for meaning in a commodified and often hypocritical society.

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