Review of Richard Siken’s poem ‘Detail of the Hayfiled’

 Review of Richard Siken’s poem ‘Detail of the Hayfiled’

I request readers to read this short poem from the link above, and then only my review. Thanks.
The first line of the poem ‘I followed myself for a long while deep into the field,’ makes the reader wonder who the two persons within the same man are. The reader has to infer from the remaining lines what this duality means figuratively. Hayfield is a metaphor. It symbolizes what, and whether understanding it would help the reader decipher who are the two persons the poet points are equally engaging questions. The poet has left plenty of scope for the reader to creatively interpret the poem.
The poet finds both individuals within hopeless. ‘Two heads full of garbage.’ On the other hand the task ahead was challenging with scope for achieving the goal with perseverance. ‘Our scope was larger than I realized, which made me that much more responsible.’ So subtly we find a mission. But the details of the mission will be clear if only we understand the metaphor, the Hayfield. There is a clue for us when the poet mentions the colors ‘Yellow, Gold and Ocher.’ These colors are both real and are valuable because colors matter to a person of duality so much. When compared illusion is more relatable to a person than reality because the latter is too abstract. Illusions are always colorful.
The duality is all about the coexistence of reality and illusion. I need all the ecstasy and zeal only an illusion can infuse; on the other hand the eternal question ‘who am I’ keeps me sane. This duality is a defense mechanism for survival. What that survival is all about? ‘Because everyone needs a place.’ The place is not a spot, a home, a land or a neighborhood. It is the place you secure when institutions find no threat or rebel in you and give you a place and some space within the institution. Be it mending fences with the institution or keeping the ‘place’ secure by way of compromises, these can be only be need based. And you need to move on with the quest ‘Who am I’ for a firm hold on your sanity and individuality. People are too short sighted or too scared of institutions. Institutions hype about how far coexistence and survival are crucial and an individual’s dream and freedom are insignificant, sowing illusions in the minds of scores of people. Creative works sprout from the points of intersection of illusions and reality. This poem excels in highlighting both the illusions and reality we encounter as part of or outside institutions.

Comments

Popular Posts