Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer's "Semele Recycled" reimagines the myth of Semele with vivid and imaginative imagery, exploring themes of fragmentation, resurrection, and the enduring nature of love and passion. The poem takes the reader through a journey of dismemberment and reassembly, both literal and symbolic, ultimately culminating in a reunion marked by renewal and intimate reverence.

The poem begins with a stark image of disintegration: "After you left me forever, / I was broken into pieces, / and all the pieces flung into the river." This opening sets the stage for a narrative of loss and dispersion. The protagonist, Semele, is shattered and scattered, her body parts taking on new roles and meanings in various contexts. The legs become a roadside shrine, adorned with offerings from children and old women. This transformation highlights how even in disarray, remnants of her body hold a sacred significance.

As the torso floats and is repurposed by a scavenger, it turns into a utilitarian object: "he called it his canoe, / and, using my arms as paddles, / he rowed me up and down the scummy river." This grotesque yet practical reuse of her body parts underscores the theme of survival and adaptability. The old man finds utility in what remains of her, and this act of repurposing imbues the poem with a sense of dark humor and resilience.

The head, discovered by a young lad, becomes an oracle: "Soon the villagers came to consult my oracular head / with its waterweed crown." This transformation from a discarded body part to a revered object of divination illustrates the continued influence and presence of Semele's spirit. The head, despite its separation from the body, retains a semblance of life and voice, reflecting the persistence of memory and identity even in fragmented form.

Kizer uses these scattered parts to explore how different aspects of Semele's being interact with the world, each serving a unique purpose. The eyes, used as marbles and then set in a bridal diadem, symbolize the enduring allure and the unintended consequences of beauty. The heart and organs, "caught in a fisherman’s net / and tossed at night into a pen for swine," create an image of sacredness trampled by the mundane, yet they retain a luminous quality that causes fear and wonder.

The poem then transitions to a moment of miraculous reassembly. The wild rumor of the beloved's return sets off a chain reaction: "The altar leapt up, and ran to the canoe, / scattering candle grease and wilted grasses." The various parts of Semele's body, animated by the call of love, seek each other out with a fervent energy. This climax is depicted with a sense of urgency and excitement, culminating in the reunion of the bodies "like a thunderclap."

The final stanza shifts from the chaos of reassembly to a serene and intimate scene: "And here it is, moonlight again; we’ve bathed in the river / and are sweet and wholesome once more." The lovers, having endured separation and transformation, find solace and renewal in each other's presence. The poem ends with a reflection on the cyclical nature of passion and decay: "But the inner parts remember fermenting hay, / the comfortable odor of dung, the animal incense, / and passion, its bloody labor, / its birth and rebirth and decay."

"Semele Recycled" is a powerful exploration of the enduring nature of love and identity through the lens of myth. Kizer's use of vivid and often startling imagery, combined with a narrative of fragmentation and reassembly, creates a poignant meditation on the themes of resurrection, the sacred and the profane, and the transformative power of passion. The poem celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, the beauty of imperfection, and the eternal cycle of love and renewal.

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