Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Annie Finch's poem "Resolution" is a beautifully intricate meditation on self-reclamation and wholeness. Using evocative imagery and rhythmic language, Finch explores the idea of gathering one's scattered aspects and integrating them into a cohesive whole, emphasizing the transformative power of resolve and introspection.

The poem opens with a declaration of intent: “I'll call those scattered parts back to my side, / and marshal them, so power cannot hide / so far inside its brow and cloudy skies.” The phrase "scattered parts" suggests fragmentation, possibly reflecting aspects of the self that have become separated or disjointed. By calling them "back to my side," the speaker expresses a desire to regain control and cohesion. The use of "marshal" conveys a sense of purpose and determination. “Power” is personified here, hidden "inside its brow and cloudy skies," indicating that it has been obscured or lost due to fragmentation.

In the next lines, the speaker calls on "the night attendants": “I'll call the night attendants to put on / their green control and walk up to my side / with thin and arching tendons bending low, / speaking my parts, the ones they used to hide.” The "night attendants" are personified figures that represent guiding forces in the speaker's journey towards wholeness. Their "green control" suggests a gentle, natural authority, while their “thin and arching tendons bending low” create an image of humility and flexibility. By "speaking my parts," the night attendants help the speaker reclaim the hidden or suppressed aspects of the self.

The poem continues with an affirmation of the night attendants' reliability: “They will walk easily, for they have shown / the way to many easy thoughts before. / They will be friendly, since they will not know / the world without them, the tormented one.” Here, the night attendants are portrayed as experienced guides who have facilitated "many easy thoughts" in the past. Their "friendly" demeanor stems from their ignorance of the "tormented" world without them, emphasizing their role as calming and stabilizing influences.

The following lines reinforce the night attendants' comforting presence: “They will speak softly. They will not be hard. / They are the night attendants; they, I know, / will count for me when all around my side / a tighter world comes on.” The attendants' "softly" spoken words and gentle demeanor contrast with the "tighter world" that presses in on the speaker. Their ability to "count for me" suggests that they provide a measure of stability and reassurance in times of uncertainty.

The poem then turns to the speaker’s resolve: “How could they hide? / I'll open out tonight, and from outside / I'll call those corners in, whose breathing shows / that globes are simple, and that light can find / one dent beyond one valley at a time.” The rhetorical question "How could they hide?" reflects the speaker's newfound confidence in reclaiming the hidden aspects of the self. By "open[ing] out tonight," the speaker aims to extend outward and bring back "those corners," suggesting a holistic integration of all aspects. The image of "globes" being "simple" and "light" finding "one dent beyond one valley at a time" evokes a sense of gradual progress and clarity, highlighting the possibility of illuminating and understanding one's inner landscape.

Structurally, "Resolution" is composed of a single stanza with a loose ABAB rhyme scheme. The rhythmic and lyrical quality of Finch’s language creates a sense of fluidity that mirrors the process of integration and self-reclamation.

In summary, "Resolution" is a richly layered poem that explores the journey toward reclaiming one's fragmented self. Annie Finch uses evocative imagery and rhythmic language to convey the transformative power of resolve, guiding readers through a meditation on self-integration and introspection. The poem ultimately offers a hopeful and empowering message about the ability to gather one's scattered parts and find wholeness through determination and self-compassion.

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