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THIS HOUSE, THIS COUNTRY, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Muriel Rukeyser's "This House, This Country" is a profound meditation on the themes of journey, self-discovery, and the tension between belonging and departure. Through evocative imagery and introspective reflections, Rukeyser explores the narrator's physical and emotional journey from the familiar confines of home to a broader, more complex understanding of identity and place.

The poem begins with a sense of perpetual motion and unease: "Always I travelled farther / dreading a barrier / starting at shadows scattered on the ground / fearful of the invisible night-sound." These lines convey a deep-seated anxiety and a compulsion to move forward, driven by an underlying fear of the unknown and the intangible threats that lurk in the darkness. This sets the stage for the narrator's journey, both literal and metaphorical, toward self-awareness and understanding.

As the narrator crosses the frontier, there is a shift in tone: "I crossed frontier / the questions asked the proofs shown the name / signed smiling I reached knowledge of my home." The act of crossing borders and providing proof of identity symbolizes a significant milestone in the narrator's journey. It suggests a moment of recognition and acceptance, both from external authorities and from within the self. The "knowledge of my home" implies a deeper understanding of one's origins and place in the world.

The narrator's praise of the new environment contrasts with the skepticism of the family left behind: "I praised their matings / and corner-meetings / their streets the brightest I had yet walked down : / my family swore I did not leave my town." This juxtaposition highlights the tension between the narrator's personal growth and the family's inability to recognize or accept this change. The family’s disbelief and the assertion that the narrator "did not leave my town" reflect a refusal to acknowledge the narrator's journey and transformation.

The poem’s refrain-like lines, "Over my shoulder / I see they grow older / their vision fails : observe I travel light / fear distance hope I shall only spend the night," underscore the narrator’s awareness of the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The act of traveling light and the hope to "only spend the night" suggest a transient existence, one that is not bogged down by the past or excessive baggage, both literal and emotional.

Rukeyser then delves into the significance of night in this new country: "But night in this country / is deep promise of day, / is busy with preparations and awake for fighting / and there is no time for leavetaking and regretting." Night, often a symbol of rest and closure, is here reimagined as a time of activity and anticipation for the day ahead. This reversal highlights the dynamic and forward-moving spirit of the new environment, where there is no room for nostalgia or regret.

The narrator reflects on the familiar yet confining nature of the old home: "I know their tired house / full of remorse / I know in my body the door, the entrance-hall / a wall and my space and another wall." The repetition of "I know" emphasizes the intimate and almost visceral connection to the old home, yet it is described as "tired" and "full of remorse," suggesting a sense of stagnation and regret that the narrator seeks to escape.

The poem culminates with a decisive break from the past: "I have left forever / house and maternal river / given up sitting in that private tomb / quitted that land that house that velvet room." The language here is definitive and resolute, marking a clear departure from the old life and its constraints. The reference to the "maternal river" evokes the idea of origin and nurturing, yet it is paired with the image of a "private tomb," indicating that what once provided comfort has now become suffocating.

In the final lines, "Frontiers admitted me / to a growing country / I carry the proofs of my birth and my mind’s reasons / but reckon with their struggle and their seasons," Rukeyser encapsulates the narrator's new identity. The mention of "proofs of my birth and my mind’s reasons" signifies a blend of personal history and intellectual justification, acknowledging both the past and the rationales for moving forward. The recognition of "their struggle and their seasons" indicates an understanding of the ongoing challenges and changes in this new environment.

"This House, This Country" is a rich exploration of the themes of identity, belonging, and transformation. Through her vivid imagery and thoughtful reflections, Rukeyser captures the complexities of leaving behind the familiar to embrace the unknown, and the continual process of defining oneself in relation to the world.


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