Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

SUN-ARTIST, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "Sun-Artist" is a vibrant and contemplative exploration of light, color, and the interplay between art and nature. The poem reflects on the transformative power of light and its ability to evoke deep emotional and sensory responses. Through vivid imagery and a meditative tone, Rukeyser examines the role of the artist in capturing and interpreting the essence of light.

The poem begins with a dramatic opening: "The opening of the doors. Dark. / The opening of the large doors." This sets the stage for a transition from darkness to light, a recurring theme throughout the poem. The initial darkness is contrasted with the natural beauty outside, where "the daylight and the scent of trees" coexist with a poisoned environment, symbolized by a lake where "generations of swans / no longer move among children." Despite the environmental decay, the "bright-headed children" continue to move, representing resilience and hope.

As the poem progresses, Rukeyser delves deeper into the experience of light: "Past the darkness a lashing of color. / Not color, strands of light. / Not light but pure deep color beyond color." This description transcends ordinary perceptions of color and light, suggesting a sublime, almost spiritual experience. The reference to "pure fierce light I once knew, before / a minute of blindness" indicates a personal, transformative encounter with light that left a lasting impression.

In the third section, Rukeyser describes standing "in the strong sun before a bank of prisms," where the interplay of light and color creates a dynamic and ever-changing "sensitive web of light." This imagery emphasizes the fluidity and ephemeral nature of light, as well as the participatory role of the observer: "The perceiver moves. / I dance my slow dance." The dance symbolizes an intimate engagement with the light, highlighting the reciprocal relationship between the observer and the observed.

The fourth section intensifies the exploration of color: "The deepest blue, green, not the streams of the sea, / the clear yellow of yellows, not California, more." Rukeyser contrasts these colors with familiar landscapes, suggesting that the experience of light in this context transcends ordinary visual references. The culmination of this experience is described as "Light traveling, meets, leaps and becomes art," underscoring the transformation of light into an artistic expression.

Children enter the scene in the fifth section, bringing a sense of wonder and spontaneity: "They run past the colors and the colors change. / The laughter of running. They cry out, bird-voices." Their interaction with the light and colors is instinctive and joyful, reinforcing the idea that light is a source of inspiration and delight.

The sixth section returns to a solitary reflection on color: "Alone I move, selecting out my green, / choose out the red with my arm, I let the orange stand." Here, the speaker actively engages with the colors, becoming "part of the color, part of the sun." This intimate connection with light and color emphasizes the personal and subjective nature of artistic creation.

The seventh section acknowledges the artist's role in harnessing the sun's power: "You have made an art in which the sun is standing. / It changes, goes dark, goes grey. The sun appears." The artist's work reflects the changing nature of light, mirroring the fluctuating states of being and perception. The invitation to "Allow the sunlight, / dance your dance" suggests a call to embrace and celebrate the transformative power of light.

The poem shifts to a day without sunlight in the eighth section: "No sun. The fog is down, / Doing its slow dance into the city." The absence of color and light creates a sense of anticipation and waiting, mirroring the uncertainty and patience required in both art and life.

In the final sections, Rukeyser contemplates the essence of light and the artist's relationship to it: "Night. What do you know about the light? / Waiting. A good deal like real life." The comparison of waiting for light to various forms of anticipation in life underscores the universal human experience of longing and expectation.

The poem concludes with a triumphant return of light: "Break of light! Sun in his colors, / streaming into our lives." The artist's dream of the sun and the children of the sun embodies a vision of renewal and hope. The recognition that "Not art, but light" and the declaration "I bear the song of the sun" affirm the artist's role as a conduit for the beauty and power of light, transcending traditional notions of art.

"Sun-Artist" by Muriel Rukeyser is a profound meditation on the interplay between light, color, and artistic expression. Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to consider the transformative power of light and the enduring role of the artist in capturing and celebrating this fundamental force of nature.


Copyright (c) 2024 PoetryExplorer





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net