Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Clare of Assisi" by Madeline DeFrees is a contemplative and deeply personal exploration of identity, spiritual aspiration, and the complex interplay between personal beliefs and societal expectations. Through the narrative of selecting a saint's name for Confirmation, DeFrees delves into themes of individuality, familial connections, and the journey towards self-realization. The poem not only reflects on the historical figure of Saint Clare of Assisi but also uses this reflection as a lens to examine the speaker's evolving sense of self and relationship with the world.

The poem begins with a vivid recollection of the ritual of choosing a Confirmation name, a significant rite of passage in the Catholic faith that symbolizes a deepening of one's spiritual identity. The speaker initially selects the name Colette, only to change to Clare upon realizing that her choice had been mimicked by her peers, rendering it too common. This early decision reflects a desire for uniqueness and a personal connection to the spiritual realm, themes that resonate throughout the poem.

The choice of Clare is significant not only for its uniqueness but also for its personal resonance with the speaker, who sees in the name an homage to her father, Clarence. This connection is enriched by the associations the name evokes, including "trumpets or Shakespeare's flourish of hautboys" and the sound of carillons. These musical images imbue the name with a sense of clarity, beauty, and transcendence, mirroring the speaker's aspiration towards higher spiritual and aesthetic ideals.

As the poem progresses, the narrative of Saint Clare of Assisi becomes a parallel to the speaker's own spiritual and existential journey. Clare's rejection of societal expectations and her radical choice for poverty and devotion resonates with the speaker, yet there's an acknowledgment of the distance between the ideal and the reality of the speaker's life. The speaker admires Clare's courage and conviction but admits to struggling with the practical implications of such a radical commitment to poverty and simplicity.

The poem takes a pivotal turn as the speaker recounts the advice given at the New York Passport Agency to "Drop everything but the Madeline." This moment symbolizes a broader shedding of layers of identity that no longer serve the speaker, including the saint's name Clare, which she had once chosen to embody. The act of simplifying her name mirrors a deeper process of self-simplification and distancing from the complexities and burdens of her earlier aspirations and identifications.

Despite this shedding of names and identities, the speaker acknowledges that the essence of what they once represented remains a part of her consciousness. The recurring imagery of bells, now "under water," symbolizes the persistent, though perhaps submerged, influence of Clare's spirit and the ideals she stands for in the speaker's life. Assisi, like Camelot, becomes a symbol of an idealized realm that is hard to forget, a place of beauty and spiritual aspiration that continues to resonate within the speaker's soul despite her attempts to move beyond it.

"Clare of Assisi" weaves together personal history, spiritual reflection, and poetic imagery to create a nuanced portrait of a soul in search of meaning and identity amidst the challenges of conformity and change. DeFrees masterfully captures the tension between aspiration and reality, the sacred and the mundane, and the enduring quest for a sense of self that is true to one's deepest beliefs and values.

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