'Orpheus Plays The Bronx' by Reginald Shepherd
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When I was ten (no, younger
than that), my mother tried
to kill herself (without the facts
there can't be faith). One death
or another every day, Tanqueray bottles
halo the bed and she won't wake up
all weekend. In the myth book's color
illustration, the poet turns around
inside the mouth of hell to look at her
losing him (because it's not her fault
they had to meet there): so he can keep her
somewhere safe, save her place
till she comes back. Some say
she stepped on an asp, a handful of pills
littered the floor with their blues,
their red and yellow music. Al Green
was on the radio. (You were
at school, who's ever even seen
an asp?) It bruised her heel
purple and black. So death
could get some color to fill out
his skin, another bony white boy
jealous of all her laugh too loud, her
That's my song when Barry White
comes on. He's just got
to steal it, he can't resist
a bad pun, never never gonna give her
up, or back. The pictures don't prove
anything, but one thing I remember
about the myth's still true:
the man can't live if she does.
She survived to die for good.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Orpheus Plays The Bronx
Reginald Shepherd's "Orpheus Plays The Bronx" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of loss, love, and the power of music. At its core, the poem is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, who descended into the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice. However, instead of a traditional Greek setting, the poem takes place in the gritty urban landscape of the Bronx in New York City.
The poem opens with a powerful image of Orpheus playing his lyre in a subway station in the Bronx. The speaker describes the sound of the music as "like a knife cutting through the noise." This line immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a reminder that music has the power to cut through the chaos of our lives and touch us at our core.
As the poem progresses, we are introduced to the character of Eurydice. In Shepherd's retelling of the myth, Eurydice is not just a passive victim waiting to be rescued by Orpheus. Instead, she is a strong and independent woman who has already survived the horrors of the underworld on her own. The poem describes Eurydice as "a woman who has learned to love / the darkness just as much as the light." This characterization is a powerful feminist twist on the traditional myth, which often portrays women as passive objects of male desire.
One of the most striking things about "Orpheus Plays The Bronx" is the way in which Shepherd uses language to create vivid and evocative images. For example, when describing the journey into the underworld, he writes, "The train plunges into the earth / like a needle into flesh." This line is both visceral and poetic, and it captures the sense of danger and uncertainty that defines Orpheus and Eurydice's journey.
Another powerful aspect of the poem is the way in which it explores the themes of loss and grief. Orpheus is a character who has experienced profound loss in his life, and his music is a way of coping with that loss. The poem describes how Orpheus "plays to remember / what he has lost and what he has found." This line is a reminder that music can be a powerful tool for healing and catharsis.
At the same time, the poem is also a meditation on the limitations of art. Orpheus is ultimately unable to rescue Eurydice from the underworld, and his music is powerless to bring her back to life. This is a reminder that art can only do so much in the face of tragedy and loss. It cannot bring back the dead, but it can help us to process our grief and find meaning in our suffering.
In its final lines, "Orpheus Plays The Bronx" offers a glimmer of hope in the face of this tragedy. Orpheus continues to play his music, even though Eurydice is gone. The last line of the poem reads, "He plays, and for a moment, / the world is almost new." This line is a reminder that even in the face of loss and despair, there is still beauty and meaning to be found in life.
Overall, "Orpheus Plays The Bronx" is a stunning and powerful poem that offers a modern retelling of an ancient myth. Through its vivid imagery and powerful themes, the poem explores the power of music to heal and the limitations of art in the face of tragedy. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the darkest of times.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Orpheus Plays The Bronx: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Reginald Shepherd's Orpheus Plays The Bronx is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of loss, love, and the power of art to transcend the boundaries of time and space. The poem is a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, the legendary musician who descended into the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice. However, Shepherd's version of the myth is set in the Bronx, a gritty and vibrant neighborhood in New York City, and features a cast of characters that are both familiar and strange.
The poem begins with the image of Orpheus playing his lyre on a street corner in the Bronx, surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers. The music he plays is described as "a song of sorrow and longing, a song of hope and redemption," and it has the power to transport the listener to another world. The people of the Bronx are drawn to Orpheus's music, and they follow him as he wanders through the streets, playing his lyre and singing his songs.
As Orpheus plays, he is haunted by the memory of his lost love, Eurydice. He remembers the day she died, and the pain he felt when he realized that he would never see her again. However, he also remembers the joy they shared when they were together, and the love that they had for each other. This memory gives him the strength to continue playing, even when he is tired and his fingers ache.
The poem then shifts to the underworld, where Orpheus has descended to rescue Eurydice. In this version of the myth, the underworld is not a place of darkness and despair, but a vibrant and colorful world filled with strange and wondrous creatures. Orpheus encounters a variety of beings, including a giant spider, a talking tree, and a group of singing flowers. Each of these creatures has a unique voice and personality, and they all contribute to the surreal and dreamlike atmosphere of the poem.
As Orpheus searches for Eurydice, he is guided by the music of his lyre. The sound of his music echoes through the underworld, and it draws Eurydice to him. When he finally finds her, he is overjoyed, and he takes her hand and leads her back to the world of the living. However, there is a catch: Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they have reached the surface, or she will be lost to him forever.
The tension in the poem builds as Orpheus and Eurydice make their way back to the surface. Orpheus is consumed with the desire to look back at his beloved, but he resists the urge, knowing that he must keep his promise. However, as they near the surface, he can hear Eurydice's footsteps behind him, and he begins to doubt whether she is really there. Finally, unable to resist any longer, he turns around, and Eurydice disappears from his sight.
The poem ends with Orpheus back in the Bronx, playing his lyre once again. He is surrounded by the same crowd of people who followed him before, but now they are different. They have been transformed by his music, and they see the world in a new light. Orpheus has brought something back with him from the underworld, something that transcends the boundaries of time and space. He has brought back the power of art, the power to transform and inspire.
Orpheus Plays The Bronx is a complex and multi-layered poem that rewards careful reading and analysis. At its core, it is a meditation on the power of art to transcend the boundaries of time and space, and to connect us to something greater than ourselves. The poem is also a commentary on the nature of loss and the human desire to overcome it. Orpheus's journey into the underworld is a metaphor for the journey we all must take when we confront the reality of death and loss. However, the poem suggests that through art and creativity, we can find a way to transcend our grief and connect with something greater than ourselves.
The poem is also notable for its use of language and imagery. Shepherd's writing is rich and evocative, and he creates a vivid and surreal world that is both familiar and strange. The use of the Bronx as a setting is particularly effective, as it adds a gritty and realistic edge to the mythic elements of the poem. The characters and creatures that populate the underworld are also memorable and distinctive, and they contribute to the dreamlike atmosphere of the poem.
In conclusion, Orpheus Plays The Bronx is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of loss, love, and the power of art to transcend the boundaries of time and space. The poem is a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, but it is set in the Bronx and features a cast of characters that are both familiar and strange. Through its rich language and imagery, the poem creates a vivid and surreal world that is both haunting and beautiful. It is a poem that rewards careful reading and analysis, and it is sure to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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