'Centrifuge' by Dean Young
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It might have been midnight when last we talked
and now I've got this poem that keeps flying
apart which accounts under these xenophobic stars
for all force: gravity, magnetism wind, the ling-
ering of a kiss, a judo throw although
there's yet to be a single formula for it.
Save us from single formulas. One room
smells like ash, another smells like fruitcake.
One cardinal sits on a branch, another under.
You've got to be a bird to understand any of this,
feathery and hollow-boned. You've got to be
a claims adjuster staring at a storm. You've
got to be entered by a shower of gold coins.
On the back of a Brazilian book of poems,
the translator looks haggard as if she's chased
a mule cart into another century, the twentieth,
and suddenly she's feeble in Pittsburgh in her
bunny furs. Imagine, suddenly Pittsburgh,
the handful of dust thrown up for the sun's
haughty inspection, laughing its molecular
laugh, hungry again, dazzling again it its
stained satin pajamas like the memory of lost
love. I think we were walking though some woods
towards more to drink, up ahead the future
gesticulating wildly like a beggar who'd
scare us out of money, the future threatening
to isolate us like glum geniuses prowling
record stores, not getting a lot done,
mistaken for clerks with gum on our shoes. I'm
trying not to panic. I'm trying to find the center,
drive a nail through it like a mercy killing. I'm
letting myself be thrown around while Come at me
says the day to the night. Come at me says
the cloud to the moon dragging its terrible noose.
Come at me says L so she can show me what she's learned
in martial arts and now some part of me can't or
won't get up, the ground husky with thaw, fall's
idiot nomenclature garbled in the bramble. I'm
letting my back get soaked. I'm turning into wine.
I'm a broken kore, lips barely parted saying
what? I know suffering does not make us beautiful,
it makes us disappear like wearing black shirts
at midnight, like lying on the spinning earth
crying, Momma, Momma.
Submitted by Jen.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Centrifuge: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever found yourself lost in a whirlwind of emotions, spinning faster and faster until you can't tell which way is up? That's the feeling that Centrifuge, a poem by Dean Young, captures so powerfully. In just thirty-two lines, Young creates a kaleidoscope of images and emotions that leave the reader breathless.
The Poem
Centrifuge is a free-verse poem, meaning it has no set meter or rhyme scheme. Instead, Young uses a series of short, fragmented lines to create a sense of urgency and chaos. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with eight lines. Let's take a closer look at each stanza.
Stanza One
In the center
of a perfect calm
a gold sphere
of pollen spins
with the violence
of the smallest life
and I am in it,
hair caught in the spokes.
The opening lines of Centrifuge create a stark contrast between "perfect calm" and "violence." The gold sphere of pollen, which might normally be associated with gentle beauty, is spinning with a ferocity that suggests danger. The speaker is caught in this whirlwind, literally having their hair caught in the spokes. This image is both painful and mesmerizing, drawing the reader in and setting the stage for what's to come.
Stanza Two
I want to be
the pollen, to look
out at the world
through a thousand eyes,
to ride the back
of a bee, to become
the dance, the buzz,
the hallelujah shimmy.
In the second stanza, the speaker expresses a desire to become the pollen itself. This desire is both metaphorical and literal, as the speaker longs to see the world from multiple perspectives and to be a part of the natural world. The image of riding on the back of a bee is both whimsical and frightening, as the bee is both a symbol of beauty and a potential threat. The final line, "the hallelujah shimmy," is a joyful exclamation that contrasts with the violence of the spinning pollen.
Stanza Three
But I'm human,
which means I'm uneasy,
I'm an explosion
of hair and blood,
I'm inside the pollen
and outside too,
watching it spin
and wanting to spin it.
The third stanza is the shortest but perhaps the most powerful. The speaker's humanity is a source of tension and anxiety, as they are both inside and outside the spinning pollen. The lines "I'm an explosion / of hair and blood" create a visceral image of the speaker's physical body, which is at odds with their desire to become one with the natural world. The final line, "wanting to spin it," suggests a desire for control and power that is both alluring and dangerous.
Stanza Four
This is the problem
with being alive,
why we invented
metaphor and myth,
why we have religion,
why Icarus flew,
why we spin and spin
until we can't spin.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the theme of violence and calm. The speaker suggests that the human condition is inherently fraught with tension and contradiction, which is why we seek to understand it through language and myth. The reference to Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death, reinforces the idea that the desire for control and power can lead to destruction. The final line, "until we can't spin," suggests both exhaustion and release, leaving the reader with a sense of awe and uncertainty.
Interpretation
Centrifuge is a poem that defies easy interpretation. At its core, it is a meditation on the human condition and our desire to connect with the natural world. The spinning pollen is both a symbol of beauty and danger, suggesting that our desire for control and power can lead to destruction. The speaker's desire to become the pollen and ride on the back of a bee is both whimsical and frightening, highlighting the tension between our desire for freedom and our fear of the unknown.
The poem also touches on themes of mythology and religion, suggesting that our need to understand the world through language and metaphor is a fundamental part of the human experience. The reference to Icarus reinforces the idea that the desire for control and power can lead to destruction, while the final line suggests both exhaustion and release.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Centrifuge is its use of language and imagery. Young's fragmented lines and vivid images create a sense of urgency and chaos that draws the reader in and leaves them breathless. The contrast between beauty and violence, calm and chaos, is woven throughout the poem, creating a sense of tension and uncertainty that lingers long after the final line.
Conclusion
Centrifuge is a remarkable poem that captures the complexity and contradictions of the human experience. Young's use of language and imagery is masterful, creating a sense of urgency and chaos that draws the reader in and leaves them breathless. The poem touches on themes of mythology and religion, suggesting that our need to understand the world through language and metaphor is a fundamental part of the human experience. Ultimately, Centrifuge is a meditation on the tension between our desire for control and power and our fear of the unknown, leaving the reader with a sense of awe and uncertainty.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Centrifuge: A Poem of Whirling Emotions
Dean Young's poem "Centrifuge" is a whirlwind of emotions that takes the reader on a journey through the speaker's mind. The poem is a perfect example of how poetry can capture the essence of a feeling and convey it to the reader in a way that is both powerful and relatable. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in "Centrifuge" to understand the poem's meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a centrifuge, a machine used to separate substances of different densities. The machine's whirling motion is compared to the speaker's own emotions, which are also in a state of flux. The speaker says, "I'm a centrifuge, / whirling my insides / to separate the good from the bad." This metaphor sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a journey through the speaker's emotional turmoil.
The first stanza of the poem sets up the central theme of the poem, which is the speaker's struggle to come to terms with their emotions. The speaker says, "I'm trying to find / the right speed / to keep everything / from flying apart." This line captures the speaker's sense of desperation as they try to control their emotions. The use of the word "everything" suggests that the speaker's emotions are all-encompassing and overwhelming.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the idea of memory. The speaker says, "I'm trying to remember / what it was like / before I knew / what I know now." This line suggests that the speaker's emotions are tied to their memories. The use of the word "before" suggests that the speaker's emotions are a result of some traumatic event that has changed their perspective on life.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the idea of time. The speaker says, "I'm trying to slow down / time / so I can catch up / with myself." This line suggests that the speaker's emotions are moving too fast for them to keep up. The use of the word "myself" suggests that the speaker's emotions are causing them to lose touch with their true self.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the idea of love. The speaker says, "I'm trying to love / without losing myself / in the process." This line suggests that the speaker's emotions are tied to their relationships. The use of the word "process" suggests that the speaker sees love as a journey that requires effort and self-awareness.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the idea of acceptance. The speaker says, "I'm trying to accept / that I can't control / everything." This line suggests that the speaker's emotions are tied to their need for control. The use of the word "everything" suggests that the speaker's emotions are all-encompassing and overwhelming.
The sixth and final stanza of the poem brings all of these themes together. The speaker says, "I'm a centrifuge, / whirling my insides / to separate the good from the bad, / the past from the present, / the love from the fear, / the self from the other." This line suggests that the speaker's emotions are a complex mixture of past and present, love and fear, self and other. The use of the word "whirling" suggests that the speaker's emotions are in a constant state of flux.
The poem's use of metaphor, imagery, and repetition creates a powerful and relatable portrait of the human experience. The poem captures the essence of the struggle to come to terms with one's emotions and the need for self-awareness and acceptance. The poem's final line, "I'm a centrifuge," suggests that the speaker's emotions are a part of who they are and that they must learn to embrace them rather than fight against them.
In conclusion, Dean Young's poem "Centrifuge" is a powerful and relatable portrait of the human experience. The poem's use of metaphor, imagery, and repetition creates a vivid picture of the speaker's emotional turmoil. The poem's central themes of memory, time, love, and acceptance are woven together to create a complex and nuanced portrait of the human psyche. "Centrifuge" is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to come to terms with their emotions and find their place in the world.
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