Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Legacy" by Frank Bidart is a reflective and critical examination of inheritance, transformation, and identity through the lens of familial and national history. The poem grapples with the complexities of the American dream, the impact of migration, and the interplay between land, wealth, and power. By tracing the journey of his ancestors from poverty to prosperity, Bidart explores the broader themes of displacement, the search for opportunity, and the consequences of ambition and survival.

The poem opens with a vivid depiction of the transformation brought about by the arrival of water—and by extension, agriculture and wealth—to a barren desert landscape. This change is emblematic of the American West's development, where natural resources were harnessed to create wealth and prosperity out of seemingly inhospitable environments. The mention of "money" to escape the "shitdirt land" suggests a desire to transcend one's origins and the harsh realities of rural poverty. This movement from land to city encapsulates a common narrative of progress and modernization, where success is measured by the ability to leave behind the manual labor of the past and assume a position of control and oversight.

Bidart's reflection on his grandparents' migration to the American desert to escape poverty and familial expectations adds a personal dimension to the poem. This narrative thread underscores the poem's exploration of legacy as both a burden and a catalyst for change. The rejection of a predetermined path ("the son who shall become a priest") in favor of self-determination mirrors the broader theme of seeking a new identity in a new land. However, the poem also hints at the complexities and contradictions of this quest, as the prosperity achieved in the West comes with its own set of moral and existential questions.

The refusal to return to Spain after it became Franco's, despite being "rich enough," speaks to the irrevocable changes that migration and the pursuit of wealth enact on individuals and families. This decision reflects a complex negotiation between past and present, homeland and adopted land, highlighting the intricate ways in which identity is shaped by political, economic, and personal factors. The poem suggests that the creation of a new life in the West is not just about economic success but also about the construction of new narratives and identities that diverge from those of the homeland.

The concluding lines of the poem, "Excrement of the sky our rage inherits / there was no gift outright we were never the land's," evoke a sense of disillusionment with the myth of an unblemished American legacy. This imagery challenges the notion of the West as a pristine, untouched paradise, instead presenting it as a site of struggle, exploitation, and conflict. The idea that "we were never the land's" underscores a sense of alienation and the recognition that the relationship between people and the land is often marked by conquest, appropriation, and environmental degradation.

"Legacy" is a powerful meditation on the meanings and implications of inheritance, both personal and collective. Through the prism of his family's history, Bidart examines the American ethos of progress and prosperity, questioning the narratives we construct about land, identity, and belonging. The poem navigates the terrain of memory, history, and the legacies we leave behind, probing the depths of our connections to the past and our aspirations for the future. In doing so, Bidart crafts a nuanced, evocative exploration of the American dream and its discontents, offering a critical reflection on the stories we tell about ourselves and the places we call home.

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