B. S. Eliud Acrewe’s Coronal presents a complex meditation on time, place, and the human condition. Through a series of interconnected vignettes, the poem navigates themes of mortality, change, and the search for meaning in a world marked by both beauty and desolation. This analysis will delve into the poem’s intricate imagery, emotional resonance, and philosophical underpinnings, exploring how Acrewe weaves together personal reflection with broader observations about the natural world and the passage of time.
Contents
I. Echoes of Time and the Coronavirus Blues
The opening lines immediately establish a preoccupation with time: “Time present and time past are not the same, though they may seem so in some eyes.” This sets the stage for a poem concerned with the interplay of past, present, and future, and the subjective experience of their passage. The allusion to Hitomaro, a classical Japanese poet, hints at the universality of these temporal concerns across cultures and eras. The intrusion of the “unseen coronavirus blues” anchors the poem in a specific historical moment, highlighting the fragility of life and the disruption of normalcy.
The juxtaposition of natural beauty – “The roses open in the garden” – with the anxieties of the pandemic creates a poignant contrast, reflecting the human tendency to seek solace in the natural world amidst uncertainty. The “droning plane, the moaning train” serve as reminders of the relentless march of progress, even as the pandemic forces a standstill. This tension between movement and stasis becomes a recurring motif throughout the poem.
II. Dystopian Stillness and the Ship of State
The second section shifts to a more explicitly dystopian landscape. The “wide and empty paved street” evokes a sense of eerie quietude, reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic setting. The imagery of the “grand e-lec-tric-sub-sta-tion” and its towering structures suggests the power of human infrastructure, even in its desolation.
The comparison of these towers to “graves of giants” further reinforces the theme of mortality and the ephemeral nature of human endeavors. The “concrete ship of state encased within the power grid” becomes a potent symbol of societal structures grappling with an uncertain future.
III. A Journey Through Desolation and Hope
The third section introduces a journey through a desolate urban landscape. The imagery of “blazing Sun” and “blinding white” streets intensifies the sense of emptiness. The descent down “Calvary” adds a layer of symbolic weight, suggesting a descent into suffering or hardship. However, amidst the desolation, glimpses of hope emerge. The “Gardens” glimpsed in the distance offer a potential refuge, a promise of renewal.
The highway filled with vehicles offers a contrasting image of movement and connection, even as the speaker remains isolated. The closing lines – “One longs for immortality…until the very last” – encapsulate the human struggle to reconcile the desire for permanence with the inevitability of death.
IV. Seeking Meaning in a Silent World
The fourth section marks a return to a more introspective tone. The absence of sound – “No mockingbird is singing here; we cannot hear a sound” – underscores the sense of isolation. The “Crimson Circle” and the “Be-All and the End-All” introduce enigmatic symbols, hinting at deeper philosophical questions about the nature of existence. The fleeting beauty of the “Spring bouquet” serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life’s joys.
V. The Word and the World
The final section explores the power of language and the search for meaning. The concept of the “Word” as a force that shapes and defines reality is central to this section. “The Word inscribes the World” suggests that language is not merely a tool for communication, but a fundamental element of human consciousness. The “burden of existence” arises from the awareness of our own mortality and the limitations of human understanding.
Conclusion: A Tapestry of Time and Place
Coronal is a multifaceted poem that explores the complexities of human experience through the lens of time and place. Acrewe’s evocative imagery, philosophical musings, and poignant reflections on the pandemic era create a resonant and thought-provoking work. The poem’s fragmented structure mirrors the fragmented nature of memory and the subjective experience of time. Ultimately, Coronal invites readers to grapple with their own perceptions of time, mortality, and the search for meaning in a world constantly in flux.