Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Charles Reznikoff’s "Jerusalem the Golden: 17" is a brief yet profound meditation on the transformation of raw materials into the components of modern infrastructure, specifically focusing on the rails in the subway. The poem invites the reader to contemplate the journey of these metal rails from their origins deep within the earth to their current state, where they serve a vital role in the bustling life of the city.

The poem opens with a direct address to the "rails in the subway," personifying them and attributing to them a capacity for experience or memory. This personification sets the tone for the reflective inquiry that follows: "what did you know of happiness, / when you were ore in the earth." Here, Reznikoff draws attention to the contrast between the rails' past and present states. As ore in the earth, the material was part of the natural world, untouched by human hands, and devoid of the consciousness or awareness that would allow it to know "happiness" or any other human experience.

The question posed to the rails—what did they know of happiness—serves as a poignant reflection on the nature of transformation and the imposition of human purpose onto the natural world. The ore, once buried and inert, has been extracted, processed, and repurposed into something integral to modern life. The rails, now essential to the operation of the subway, are bathed in "electric lights," a stark contrast to their dark, subterranean origins.

The "electric lights" shining upon the rails symbolize the transition from a natural, hidden existence to one of utility and exposure in the human-made environment. The light can also be seen as a metaphor for progress, enlightenment, or the human ability to shape and control the environment. However, this transformation is also tinged with a sense of loss or dislocation; the rails, once part of the earth’s raw, untouched fabric, are now embedded in the machinery of urban life, far removed from their natural state.

Reznikoff’s poem subtly raises questions about the cost of progress and the changes wrought by industrialization. The transformation of ore into rails is emblematic of the broader processes of civilization, where natural resources are extracted and converted into tools, infrastructure, and technology. While this transformation brings about the conveniences and advancements of modern life, it also entails a fundamental alteration of the natural world, where the original, untouched state is forever changed.

In just a few lines, "Jerusalem the Golden: 17" encapsulates a complex reflection on the intersection of nature and human industry. The poem invites readers to consider the origins of the materials that make up their everyday environment and to reflect on the deeper implications of the transformations that have shaped the modern world. Reznikoff’s focus on the subway rails—seemingly mundane objects—elevates them into symbols of both human ingenuity and the disconnection from nature that often accompanies progress.

Ultimately, the poem speaks to the broader theme of transformation and the human capacity to repurpose and redefine the world around us. It suggests a kind of melancholy for what is lost in this process, even as it acknowledges the power and brilliance of human creation.

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