Poetry Blog 1

Emerson’s “The Apology” begins with his explaining his desire for solitude and nature. He is not being “unkind and rude,” rather, he seeks a spiritual connection with “the god of the wood.” Nor, he explains, does his desire to rest near a creek indicate laziness: his artistic and intellectual fulfillment require this activity. Next, he implores his contemporaries not to critique him for returning with flowers because each flower represents more than its physical being: it is “loaded with a thought.” Emerson now makes general claims about the meaning of nature, indicating it as the source of all mystery and history. He ends by gently critiquing notions of value: while nature’s bounty includes the harvest brought in by oxen—agricultural yields—so too does nature bring intellectual, artistic, and spiritual fulfillment. This poem therefore describes Emerson’s view of nature as integral to his identity, rather than as a mere pastime or diversion from his real life.

Mahmoud Darwish, in “Identity Card,” repeats the phrase, “Put it on record,” to begin most stanzas. When asked for his identity card, he instead divulges what he views as his identity: father of nine, poor and hardworking, patient and humble, rural, displaced, and angry. In doing so, he turns the harsh, authoritarian question of “Who are you?” into a protest against Israeli policy. His poem shifts at line 55, when he goes from describing himself and his past to explaining his views on the Palestinian issue: he and those like him are innocent, and peaceful, but could be provoked to violence.

 I consider Emerson my favorite poet (though I read very little poetry). That’s partly because his language is simple and partly because his interests and values parallel mine, especially in regard to hard work, self-reliance, and nature.

Darwish’s poem is more challenging. I chose to read the poem in part because I was intrigued by its author’s PLO background. Initially, Darwish legitimately and powerfully expresses problems with Zionist policy. After the shift, though, Darwish’s simplistic view of “my usurper” indicates the otherization that has entrenched the conflict and harmed civilians on both sides.