One of the most alluring elements of Rich's poetry, to me, is the wide range of emotions and feelings her writing's invoke in me. Rich fearlessly, courageously and honestly addresses the injustices for which there "are no words for" as best she can. Rich's poetry is able to instil strong feelings and emotions within me, not only because I can readily connect with the themes she covers, but because of the pure emotional intensity of her poetry.
There is a strong connection between her life and her poetry; indeed her poetry is almost a narrative of her life and as we witness her evolution from a bystander to the "gray unrest" in Storm Warnings to a direct participant in the political, social and cultural revolution of the 1960's in Our Whole Life, we also witness a development and evolution in her style as a poet. Rich does not just deal with issues on a personal level, but on a political, cultural and social level; so much so that both become so entwined that it is difficult to tell them apart. Rich eventually becomes the embodiment of her cause.
One of the first emotions Rich's poetry instils in me is an admiration for the poet. This is ironic since Rich is not writing for personal gratification but to support- and be a part of- a social revolution. However, this involvement in the revolution makes Rich, to me, as inspirational figure. This revolution is part of who she is- indeed "weather abroad and weather in the heart" are identical to her. The revolution is everything she stands for, everything she believes in. Rich writes not for herself, but for all women. That she writes honestly, fearlessly and courageously is laudable. She is outspoken; she practises her right to be.
This is in contrast to the aunt featured in Aunt Jennifer's Tigers who is oppressed by the "massive weight of... [a] wedding band", who must express herself through the tigers in her embroidery- tigers that are "prancing, proud and unafraid", being everything that Aunt Jennifer herself cannot be. Rich speaks on behalf of generations of oppressed female artists- she gives voice to those that cannot speak and I find this admirable.
Perhaps the greatest emotion that Rich's poetry arouses in me is empathy. I empathize with the pure frustration that Rich expresses in her poetry. In my opinion, she most clearly expresses her anger and outrage in Our Whole Life. Rich appears to be incensed at the "knot of lies" destroying the society of the era. She is expanding her focus now, not just to include feminism but activism as a whole- from racial equality to the anti-war movement. It almost seems that everywhere she looks she witnesses horrors for which "there are no words for". The remarkable imagery of this poem- "meanings burnt off", "the Algerian... burning"- could not fail to provoke feelings of frustration.
A feeling of frustration also emerges in Living in Sin. The form of the poem itself almost expresses frustration with no space left between intentionally ill-defined stanzas. Here we see, even on the frontlines of revolution, an imbalance and inequality between the sexes. That this occurs even in this most liberal of environments, an artist's studio where lovers are living together before marriage, is regrettable and frustrating. The times are changing, but are bringing traditional roles of men and women with them. The repetitive, monotonous day the woman experiences is a metaphor for history- a history where the same mistakes are made over and over- and this in itself is frustrating.
The frustrations of the battle between the sexes are further explored in Trying to Talk with a Man. Even the title suggests that it is a struggle for the sexes to communicate effectively. This poem explores both men and women's views of the development of nuclear weapons- the male "talking of the danger" passively, the female speaking of "people caring for each other". Although the poem does have an anti-violence slant, war here is also a metaphor for the raging battle between the sexes.
Perhaps the most stimulating emotion that Rich's poetry invokes in me is excitement. It is exciting to read her poetry- poetry that deals with change and a struggle for the better.
Rich's poetry offers to the generation of which I am a part a window into the "troubled regions" that were the 1960's. Through her writings, we are given an opportunity to explore the tumultuous times through the eyes of someone directly involved in the social upheaval. In many ways, the poem Storm Warnings serves as an appetiser to this excitement, a "prediction... [of] gray unrest". It is a poem that aroused my interest in Rich's poetry. As someone with only hindsight to the 1960's, it was exciting for me personally to view the events of the era through Rich's poetry.
Finally, I felt some sympathy towards Rich in regards to the personal problems she has experienced. She appears to have struggled with her identity moving from bystander to housewife to feminist. I also sympathise with the regret she expresses in From a Survivor over her husband's suicide in the year they divorced. "Next year it would have been 20 years" she laments. However, the sympathy I feel for Rich is limited. She has overcome her problems and lived her life, "not as a leap/but a succession of brief amazing moments/each one making possible the next."
Sympathy is for victims and Rich is anything but.
Rich's remarkable poetry- it's imagery, structures, themes- could do nothing but stir a wide array of emotions within the reader. I experience the excitement and hope of the era of her poems when I read her poetry. Her skill as a poet is unquestionable and as a person she has left me in awe.
