'Landscape At The End Of The Century' by Stephen Dunn

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The sky in the trees, the trees mixed up
with what's left of heaven, nearby a patch
of daffodils rooted down
where dirt and stones comprise a kind
of night, unmetaphysical, cool as a skeptic's
final sentence. What this scene needs
is a nude absentmindedly sunning herself
on a large rock, thinks the man fed up
with nature, or perhaps a lost tiger,
the maximum amount of wildness a landscape
can bear, but the man knows and fears
his history of tampering with everything,
and besides to anyone who might see him
he's just a figure in a clearing
in a forest in a universe
that is as random as desire itself,
his desire in particular, so much going on
with and without him, moles humping up
the ground near the daffodils, a mockingbird
publishing its cacaphonous anthology,
and those little Calvinists, the ants,
making it all the more difficult
for a person in America
to close his office, skip to the beach.
But what this scene needs are wisteria
and persimmons, thinks the woman
sunning herself absentmindedly on the rock,
a few magnificent words that one
might want to eat if one were a lover
of words, the hell with first principles,
the noon sun on my body, tempered
by a breeze that cannot be doubted.
And as she thinks, she who exists
only in the man's mind, a deer grazes
beyond their knowing, a deer tick riding
its back, and in the gifted air
mosquitos, dragonflies, and tattered
mute angels no one has called upon in years.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Landscape At The End Of The Century: An Exploration of Contemporary American Life

Stephen Dunn's Landscape At The End Of The Century is a powerful poem that delves into the complexities of contemporary American life. Through a series of vivid and poignant images, Dunn captures the essence of a world that is simultaneously beautiful and troubled, offering a unique perspective on the state of the human condition at the close of the twentieth century.

The Poem's Structure and Style

One of the most striking aspects of Landscape At The End Of The Century is its structure and style. The poem is written in free verse, with no regular meter or rhyme scheme. This allows Dunn to experiment with language and form, creating a fluid and dynamic work that is both accessible and thought-provoking.

The poem is also divided into three distinct sections, each of which offers a unique perspective on contemporary American life. The first section focuses on the natural world, exploring the beauty and majesty of the landscape. The second section delves into the complexities of human relationships, addressing themes of love, loss, and redemption. The final section brings these themes together, offering a powerful meditation on the state of the world at the close of the century.

The Natural World

The first section of Landscape At The End Of The Century is perhaps the most striking. Here, Dunn paints a vivid portrait of the natural world, celebrating its beauty while acknowledging the ways in which it is threatened by human activity. The opening lines of the poem set the tone:

The natural world has good bones,
a landscape at once spare and complex,
a language of mostly nouns.

These lines are both lyrical and evocative, capturing the essence of the natural world in just a few words. Dunn goes on to describe the landscape in more detail, painting a picture of rolling hills, open fields, and clear blue skies. He also acknowledges the ways in which this landscape is changing, as human activity encroaches on wild spaces:

But the world is changed by human intervention,
and so it seems does the language,
so we say clear-cut, strip mine, oil spill,
and we say wilderness as if we know
what was there before we called it that.

These lines are powerful in their simplicity, reminding us of the ways in which human activity has altered the natural world. Dunn's use of language is particularly effective here, highlighting the ways in which our words shape our understanding of the world around us.

Human Relationships

The second section of the poem is perhaps the most personal, exploring the complexities of human relationships. Here, Dunn addresses themes of love, loss, and redemption, offering a poignant meditation on the ways in which we connect with one another. The opening lines set the tone:

We need to talk, I said to my wife.
The words sounded like someone else's.

These lines capture the sense of distance and alienation that can sometimes come between people who are closest to each other. Dunn goes on to describe a scene in which he and his wife attempt to reconnect, but find themselves struggling to communicate:

We sat across from each other
and tried to invent a language
we could both speak, but the words
were like strangers in a train station
trying to find the right platform.

These lines are both lyrical and heartbreaking, capturing the sense of alienation that can sometimes come between people who are struggling to connect. Dunn's use of metaphor is particularly powerful here, highlighting the ways in which language can both bring us together and keep us apart.

The State of the World

The final section of Landscape At The End Of The Century brings together the themes of the natural world and human relationships, offering a powerful meditation on the state of the world at the close of the century. Dunn begins by describing a scene in which he and his wife are sitting in a coffee shop, watching the world go by:

We sat there watching the people
rush by as if they were trying to outrun
something they couldn't name,
and we wondered what it was
they were leaving behind.

These lines capture the sense of urgency and uncertainty that characterizes contemporary American life. Dunn goes on to describe the ways in which the world is changing, as technology and globalism blur the boundaries between nations and cultures:

The century is ending
and the world is becoming something else,
something new and strange and exciting,
and we are all a part of it,
whether we like it or not.

These lines are both exciting and unsettling, capturing the sense of dislocation and possibility that characterizes the contemporary world. Dunn's use of language here is particularly effective, highlighting the ways in which the world is changing even as we struggle to keep up.

Conclusion

In Landscape At The End Of The Century, Stephen Dunn offers a powerful meditation on contemporary American life. Through a series of vivid and poignant images, he captures the essence of a world that is simultaneously beautiful and troubled, celebrating the natural world while acknowledging the ways in which it is threatened by human activity. He also explores the complexities of human relationships, addressing themes of love, loss, and redemption. Finally, he offers a powerful meditation on the state of the world at the close of the century, highlighting the ways in which technology and globalism are changing the world even as we struggle to understand them. Overall, Landscape At The End Of The Century is a powerful and thought-provoking work, offering a unique perspective on the state of the human condition at the turn of the millennium.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Landscape At The End Of The Century: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression

Stephen Dunn's Landscape At The End Of The Century is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of the human experience in the modern world. The poem is a reflection on the state of the world at the end of the 20th century, and the impact of technology and progress on our lives. It is a powerful commentary on the human condition, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that is constantly changing.

The poem begins with a description of the landscape, which is portrayed as a barren wasteland, devoid of life and vitality. The speaker describes the world as a "desert of the real," a phrase that captures the sense of emptiness and isolation that pervades modern life. The landscape is characterized by its emptiness, its lack of color and vibrancy, and its sense of desolation. This image of the world as a barren wasteland is a powerful metaphor for the human condition, and the sense of alienation and disconnection that many people feel in the modern world.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the impact of technology and progress on our lives. He describes the world as a place where "the machines have taken over," and where human beings have become slaves to their own creations. This image of the world as a place where technology has taken over is a powerful commentary on the dangers of progress, and the need for human beings to maintain control over their own lives.

The poem also explores the theme of mortality, and the inevitability of death. The speaker reflects on the fact that "we are all going to die," and that our lives are fleeting and temporary. This sense of mortality is a powerful reminder of the fragility of human life, and the need to make the most of the time that we have.

Despite the bleakness of the landscape and the sense of despair that pervades the poem, there is also a sense of hope and possibility. The speaker suggests that there is still beauty and meaning to be found in the world, even in the midst of all the chaos and destruction. He describes the world as a place where "the light still shines," and where there is still the possibility of redemption and renewal.

Overall, Landscape At The End Of The Century is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that captures the essence of the human experience in the modern world. It is a powerful commentary on the dangers of progress, the fragility of human life, and the need for human beings to find meaning and purpose in a world that is constantly changing. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and richness of the human experience, and to inspire us to think deeply about the world around us.

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