Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Ars Poetica" is a profound meditation on the nature of poetry, time, and existence. The poem explores the relationship between art and life, suggesting that poetry serves as a mirror reflecting our deepest experiences and emotions, while also transcending the temporal and the finite. Borges uses rich metaphors and allusions to convey the timeless, cyclical, and transformative power of poetry.

The poem begins with a striking metaphor: "To look at the river made of time and water / And remember that time is another river." Here, Borges introduces the idea of time as a flowing river, constantly moving and changing, yet also continuous and unending. This river of time, like water, suggests the fluid and ephemeral nature of life. The second line deepens this idea by reminding us that "we are lost like the river," emphasizing the transitory nature of human existence, where our identities and experiences dissolve and disappear, much like water in a stream.

Borges then introduces the concept of dreams and sleep, linking them to the idea of death: "To be aware that waking dreams it is not asleep / While it is another dream, and that the death / That our flesh goes in fear of is that death / Which comes every night and is called sleep." This passage reflects Borges' recurring fascination with the blurred boundaries between wakefulness and dreaming, life and death. He suggests that just as sleep is a nightly "death," so too is death itself a kind of sleep—a recurring cycle rather than an absolute end.

The poem then moves into a reflection on symbols and the role of poetry: "To see in the day or in the year a symbol / Of the days of man and of his years, / To transmute the outrage of the years / Into a music, a murmur of voices, and a symbol." Borges suggests that poetry has the power to transform the hardships and passage of time into something beautiful and meaningful—a "music" that captures the essence of human experience. The act of transmutation is central to the poetic process, where the mundane and painful aspects of life are elevated into art.

Borges continues by linking poetry to death and the natural cycles of the day: "To see in death sleep, and in the sunset / A sad gold such is poetry, / Which is immortal and poor." The image of the "sad gold" of sunset symbolizes the beauty and melancholy inherent in poetry, which, like the sunset, is both fleeting and eternal. Poetry, Borges suggests, is "immortal" because it endures beyond the immediate moment, yet it is also "poor" because it is rooted in the transient experiences of life.

The poem then introduces the idea of art as a mirror: "At times in the evenings a face / Looks at us out of the depths of a mirror; / Art should be like that mirror / Which reveals to us our own face." Borges posits that art, like a mirror, should reflect our true selves, revealing our innermost thoughts and feelings. This metaphor underscores the introspective nature of poetry and art, which allow us to confront and understand our own identities.

Borges then alludes to the myth of Ulysses (Odysseus) and his return to Ithaca: "They say that Ulysses, sated with marvels, / Wept tears of love at the sight of his Ithaca, / Green and humble." This reference highlights the idea that, despite the wonders and adventures of life, it is the return to the familiar and the simple—symbolized by Ithaca—that brings true fulfillment. Borges likens art to Ithaca, suggesting that the true value of art lies not in grandiosity or marvels, but in its ability to connect us to the enduring, humble truths of existence.

The poem concludes with a return to the metaphor of the river: "It is also like the river with no end / That flows and remains and is the mirror of one same / Inconstant Heraclitus, who is the same / And is another, like the river with no end." Here, Borges references the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, known for his doctrine of constant change, often summarized as "you cannot step into the same river twice." Borges reflects on the paradoxical nature of the river—it is ever-changing, yet it also remains the same. This duality captures the essence of poetry, which both reflects and transcends the mutable experiences of life.

In "Ars Poetica," Borges presents a vision of poetry as a timeless, reflective art form that captures the essence of human existence. Through its symbols and metaphors, poetry transforms the fleeting moments of life into something eternal and meaningful, offering a mirror in which we can see ourselves and our place in the world. Borges' exploration of time, memory, and identity underscores the power of poetry to bridge the gap between the temporal and the eternal, the personal and the universal.

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