Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Resurrection of the Right Side" powerfully captures the experience of physical and existential struggle, exploring themes of pain, recovery, and the reawakening of life's rhythms. Through vivid imagery and a fragmented narrative, Rukeyser immerses the reader in the journey from a debilitating affliction toward a renewed sense of self and wholeness.

The poem opens with a stark depiction of physical suffering: "When the half-body dies its frightful death / forked pain, infection of snakes, lightning, pull down the / voice." These lines convey a vivid, almost surreal picture of pain and paralysis, likening the experience to an invasion of serpentine agony and electrical shocks that render the body helpless. The loss of voice underscores the severity of this affliction, symbolizing a loss of agency and communication.

The subsequent lines, "Waking / and I begin to climb the mountain on my mouth, / word by stammer, walk stammered, the lurching deck of earth," introduce the struggle for recovery. The metaphor of climbing a mountain with one's mouth suggests the arduous effort to regain speech and movement. The "lurching deck of earth" evokes the instability and challenge of navigating a world that no longer feels solid or predictable. The stammering words and steps reflect the initial, halting attempts to reclaim normalcy.

Rukeyser poignantly describes the disorientation and loss of rhythm: "Left-right with none of my own rhythms / the long-established sex and poetry. / I go running in sleep, / but waking stumble down corridors of self, all rhythms gone." These lines highlight the fragmentation of identity and the disconnection from previously natural, ingrained patterns of movement and creativity. The contrast between the fluidity of dreams and the stumbling reality of waking life underscores the profound disruption caused by the affliction.

The poem's exploration of love and intimacy further emphasizes the impact of this disruption: "The broken movement of love sex out of rhythm / one halted name in a shattered language." The fracture of physical and emotional connection is depicted through the imagery of broken movements and shattered language, suggesting a profound sense of loss and isolation. The "ruin of French-blue lights behind the eyes" conveys a sense of faded beauty and clarity, reinforcing the theme of diminished perception and vitality.

Despite these challenges, the poem gradually shifts towards hope and recovery: "slowly the left hand extends a hundred feet / and the right hand follows follows / but still the power of sight is very weak." The extended reach of the hands symbolizes the gradual regaining of control and coordination. The repetition of "follows" underscores the painstakingly slow progress, while the weakened sight suggests that the journey towards full recovery is still ongoing.

Rukeyser introduces a metaphor of life and continuity with "but I go rolling this ball of life, it rolls / and I follow it whole up the slowly-brightening slope." The image of a ball rolling up a slope signifies persistence and forward momentum, despite the difficulties. The "slowly-brightening slope" suggests a gradual return of light and clarity, hinting at the possibility of a full recovery.

The poem culminates in a moment of triumph and renewal: "A whisper attempts me, I whisper without stammer / I walk the long hall to the time of a metronome / set by a child’s gun-target left-right / the power of eyesight is very slowly arriving / in this late impossible daybreak / all the blue flowers open." The ability to whisper without stammering marks a significant milestone in the recovery process, symbolizing regained fluency and self-expression. The reference to the metronome, associated with a child's gun-target, suggests a return to structured, deliberate movement and the relearning of rhythms. The "late impossible daybreak" signifies a miraculous return to life and light, and the blooming of "blue flowers" represents the renewal of beauty and vitality.

"Resurrection of the Right Side" is a testament to human resilience and the arduous journey towards healing and wholeness. Through its evocative imagery and raw, fragmented narrative, Rukeyser captures the profound challenges and triumphs of reclaiming one's body and spirit after a debilitating affliction. The poem's progression from pain and disorientation to hope and renewal offers a powerful reflection on the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

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