Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Mississippi River Empties Into The Gulf" by Lucille Clifton weaves a profound contemplation of time, memory, and the cyclical nature of life through the metaphor of rivers flowing into the sea. Clifton's poetry often explores the interconnectedness of existence, drawing from the natural world to illuminate human experiences and truths. This poem is no exception, as it offers a reflection on how the past and future are perpetually carried by the present, much like rivers carry their waters to the sea.

The poem begins with a literal description of the Mississippi River's journey, which leads into the Gulf and then the sea, illustrating a continuous flow that never truly empties but perpetually carries its contents. This movement symbolizes the passage of time, where "none of them emptying anything" emphasizes that nothing is ever truly lost to the past; rather, everything is carried forward, accumulating history and anticipation for the future. The imagery of "yesterday / forever on their white tipped backs" and "all of them dragging forward tomorrow" personifies the rivers and gulf as keepers of time, bearing the weight of history while also pulling the future along with them.

Describing this process as "the great circulation / of the earth’s body, like the blood / of the gods," Clifton elevates the natural cycle to a cosmic, divine phenomenon, suggesting that this flow is as vital to the Earth as blood is to a body. This comparison imbues the natural world with a sacredness and significance that mirrors the mystical and eternal, portraying the river's flow as a manifestation of the world's living, breathing essence.

The assertion that "every water / is the same water coming round" speaks to the theme of eternal recurrence, the idea that all things in existence follow a cyclical pattern, much like the water cycle. This concept challenges the perception of time as linear, suggesting instead that time is a continuum where the past, present, and future are interconnected and interdependent.

The poem concludes with an image of an individual standing by the river, "staring into time," symbolizing the human endeavor to comprehend the vastness of existence and our place within it. The final lines, "whispering mistakenly: / only here. only now," capture the common misconception that the present moment is isolated and disconnected from the past and future. Clifton suggests that this viewpoint is limited, failing to recognize the continuous flow of existence that connects every moment to the entirety of time.

"The Mississippi River Empties Into The Gulf" is a meditation on the profound connections between the natural world and the human experience of time. Through the metaphor of the river's flow, Clifton invites readers to contemplate the depth and breadth of existence, urging a recognition of the continuity that binds us to both the past and the future. The poem serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of acknowledging our place within the vast, interconnected web of time.

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