The Prodigal Son Metaphor
The narrative of “Happiness” invites readers into a realm of unsettling introspection, where the metaphor of the prodigal son serves as a poignant anchor. In the parable, the prodigal son is portrayed as a naive and impetuous figure, whose return home is prompted by the harsh realities of hunger and toil. This depiction casts happiness in a less than flattering light, suggesting it may sometimes be borne out of desperation or necessity rather than genuine contentment.
The speaker’s reaction, encapsulated in the line, “And how can you not forgive?” introduces a complex duality. The inquiry opens the door to both unconditional forgiveness and the possibility of withholding forgiveness, embodying the internal conflict of acceptance versus resentment. Mirroring the forgiving father, the speaker appears to embrace a prodigal nature themselves, extending a lavish welcome to the return of lost happiness. Their actions echo the celebratory response of the parable: “You make a feast in honor of what/ was lost, and take from its place the finest/ garment.”
Thus, this duality in response reflects a deeper meditation on the nature of happiness and forgiveness—where the return of joy, however flawed or unexpected, is met with open arms and celebration, rather than judgment or reproach. This layered metaphor challenges the reader to reconsider the ways in which happiness is pursued, lost, and ultimately reclaimed.
The Ominous Uncle Metaphor
The metaphor of the uncle is laced with an eerie duality, merging benevolence with suspicion. This uncle, reminiscent of the good shepherd from the New Testament, ventures into the wilderness to retrieve a lost lamb, symbolizing a quest for salvation and guidance. Yet, his intentions are shrouded in mystery, prompting unsettling questions: Why has he reappeared now? What drives his actions? Is he merely pursuing personal gain, eyeing a slice of an inheritance as the speaker languishes in despair? The notion that happiness could reach its most extreme form in death—an escape from the burdens of a weary existence, akin to a wineglass exhausted by its contents—is hauntingly present.
Galway Kinnell's "The Striped Snake and the Goldfinch" from Imperfect Thirst (1994) resonates with a similar image, depicting wine filling "the upper bell of the glass that will hold the last hour we have to live." This imagery underscores a sense of finality and the fleeting nature of life. Jane Kenyon's poem "Happiness," composed before she was aware of the leukemia that would claim her life at forty-eight, echoes this somber reflection. Her lifelong struggle with depression casts a poignant shadow over her work, infusing it with a profound depth and a nuanced understanding of happiness, despair, and the fine line between them.
The Human Condition and Impermanence of Happiness
Kenyon's exploration of happiness delves deeply into the complexities of the human condition, illustrating how happiness is both ephemeral and indiscriminate. This fleeting state does not rely on merit or intentional possession but arrives unexpectedly, gracing both people and objects alike. The transitory nature of happiness is framed by inevitable loss—the loss that heralds its arrival and the loss that lingers when it departs. These moments of absence and presence give happiness its profound significance and poignancy.
Kenyon further weaves the theme of mortality into her narrative, juxtaposing life's transient joys with the ever-present "perpetual shade" of death. This contrast highlights a universal mystery: the capability of even inanimate objects, such as a boulder or a wineglass, to experience a moment of rejuvenation. In these instances, happiness breathes new life into the world, hinting at an enigmatic continuity beyond our immediate understanding—a whisper of an afterlife that transcends the solitude of existence.
The Poetic Imagination and Paradox
Galway Kinnell’s evocative poem "How Could You Not" (1995), crafted...
(This entire section contains 240 words.)
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in memory of Jane Kenyon, resonates deeply with the themes and stylistic devices found in Kenyon’s work "Happiness." It concludes with an imagery-laden question: “How could you not rise and go, with all that light/ at the window and the sound,/ coming or going, hard to say, of a single-engine/ plane in the distance that no one else hears?” This line encapsulates the essence of the poetic imagination, a lens through which the mundane transforms into the extraordinary, revealing layers of meaning unnoticed by most.
"Happiness," as explored through Kenyon's poetic vision, becomes a celebration of perception and insight. It invites readers to partake in a "feast in honor of what was lost," suggesting that joy itself can be an act of remembrance and reverence for experiences passed. The imagery of the "finest garment" drapes happiness in a luxurious, almost ceremonial light, underscoring its role as both an arrival and a return—a prodigal son of emotions.
This duality presents a paradox where happiness is both the subject and the object, the journey and the destination. In the realm of poetry, this paradox is not merely an intellectual exercise but a gift, offering a profound insight into the human condition. The transformation of the prodigal into a poem itself illustrates how art captures the fleeting and makes it eternal, weaving a tapestry of emotion that endures beyond the moment.