Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's "Elegy in Rock, For Audre Lorde" is a powerful tribute to the late poet and activist Audre Lorde. Through the use of vivid and multifaceted imagery of minerals and rocks, Piercy encapsulates the essence of Lorde’s life, work, and enduring legacy. The poem juxtaposes physical elements with metaphysical qualities to convey the depth of Lorde's influence and the lasting impact of her words and spirit.

The poem opens with a childhood memory of treasures: "A child, I cherished a polyhedron of salt / my father brought up from under Detroit, / the pure crystal from a deep mine. / The miracle was it felt hard and clear / as glass and yet the tongue said tears." This polyhedron of salt symbolizes the blending of strength and vulnerability, qualities that were embodied by Lorde. The salt, both hard and tear-inducing, suggests a duality that resonates with Lorde's powerful yet poignant voice.

Piercy continues with another cherished object: "My other treasure was a polished shard / of anthracite that glittered on my palm, / harder, fiercer than the soft coal / we shoveled into the basement furnace. / Coal halfway to a diamond?" This anthracite, glittering and fierce, represents the transformative power of Lorde's words and activism. The comparison to coal and its potential to become a diamond underscores Lorde's ability to turn adversity into brilliance and strength.

The poem transitions to a shared passion for rocks: "More than once we talked about rocks / for which you had a passion, curiosity / fired by adventure, reading the landscape / with eye and pick, cliffs that confided / in a lover’s whisper their history." This passage highlights Lorde's intellectual curiosity and her ability to uncover deep truths, much like reading the history written in the landscape of rocks.

Piercy uses specific rocks to symbolize different aspects of Lorde's character: "Obsidian, the obvious: it can take / an edge, can serve as a knife / in ritual or in combat, as your fine / dark deep voice could pour out love / or take an edge like a machete." Obsidian, with its sharp edges, represents Lorde's cutting, incisive voice that could be both loving and fiercely combative when necessary.

The poem then shifts to garnet, a central symbol for Lorde: "but what you are now that only the work / remains is garnet, not a flashy / jewel, native, smoldering, female. / Garnet: the blackest red, / color of the inner woman, of deep sex, / color of the inside of the lid closed tight / while the eye still searches / for light in itself." Garnet, with its deep, rich color, embodies the essence of Lorde's profound and intrinsic femininity and sexuality. It symbolizes the internal strength and hidden depths of a woman who constantly sought light and truth within herself.

Piercy continues to draw parallels between garnet and the natural world: "Sand is the residue, / the pulverized bones of mountains. / Here on the great beach in summer / the sea rolls over and bares / slabs of tawny sand that glitter: / little buffed worlds of garnet / pool like the shadows of old blood / under the sun’s yellow stare." The imagery of garnet in the sand evokes the persistent presence of Lorde's influence, even in the smallest particles, suggesting that her legacy is both widespread and deeply ingrained.

The poem concludes with a poignant reflection on Lorde's enduring impact: "Audre, Audre, your work shines on the night / of the world, the blaze of your words / but your own female power and beauty / are gone, a garnet ground into powder / and dissolved in wine the earth drinks." Here, Piercy laments the loss of Lorde's physical presence while celebrating the everlasting brilliance of her words. The metaphor of garnet ground into powder and dissolved in wine captures the idea of Lorde's essence being absorbed into the world, nourishing it and continuing to inspire.

"Elegy in Rock, For Audre Lorde" by Marge Piercy is a rich, layered tribute that uses the imagery of rocks and minerals to encapsulate the powerful, enduring legacy of Audre Lorde. Through this elegy, Piercy honors Lorde's strength, passion, and transformative impact, ensuring that her spirit and words continue to resonate and inspire.

Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...