Two Poems by Alistair Reid

 

            I looked at two pieces by Alistair Reid, whom I had previously claimed an interest.  I stand by that interest and explore further in the poems, “Counting” and “Mandala: Dilemma”. 

            Reid brings a certain playful seriousness to both of these pieces.  He is questioning the sounds, meanings, power and influence of words, among other things.  In “Mandala: Dilemma” he writes the words “The Pen Is Mightier Than…”  in a circle.  There are no words breaks, so it could be read as “The Penis Might Tier Than…” or “Migh Tiert Hant Hepenis” or Ant Hepe Nism Ightie Rth”.  Just written on a line the words, “The pen is mightier than” do not have the impact as they do here; written in a circle with a title that directs the reader’s interpretation.

            In “Counting”, as we discussed in class, Reid manipulated the sounds of the words that people use to count.  He builds narratives out a rag tag group of words that sound good together, but he also does so much more. 

            The big questions in both of these works are; what do words mean?  What power do they have?  Why do they mean what they mean?  Can they mean anything else? Do they have to?

            I claimed that Reid was playful and I stand by that, however I think one of the main differences in the two pieces is the tone.  “Counting” starts out very playful and sounds fun, especially when read out loud.  It progresses to be more serious and probes those questions as the lists of words goes on and the subtext builds.  “Mandala” Dilemma” reads as more somber than earns its wit after more thought.

            Looking at the first lines in the three columns in “Counting” we see the words “Ounce…/ Instant…/ Archery”.  The words feel different, ounce ends lightly on the soft c.  Instant ends a bit harder but is softened by the dominant nnnnnssss sound.  Archery is a hard sounding word, made up of forceful r, ch, and ry.  The connotations of the words also evolve.  Ounce is non threatening, archery the opposite, and instant plays both sides.  As archery becomes buchery and treachery the ominous feel builds. 

            Counting can feel childish, the repetition of units that seem minute and are everyday occurrences.  What else do we count?  Truly, everything in life is counted, even life itself.  On graves we list the dates of birth and death, numbers. 

            “Mandala: Dilemma” to me, reads in the opposite manner.  Reid tells us it’s a dilemma.  Mandala is the Sanskrit word for circle.  A never ending dilemma.  The poem itself is a play on the old saying “The pen is mightier than the sword” which points to power and control.  What is Reid saying about the power of words?

            Language doesn’t end.  It is the original technology and the basis of our whole society.  Progress is quantified in literacy rates.  The power of language doesn’t end.

            The clever side of “Mandala” Dilemma” snuck up on me after staring at it for a while and appreciating the power of the question.  That Reid even thought to put this phrase to print in this manner, is playful and it is questioning.  Critics might say that it’s overly simplistic, anyone could have written that.  There’s no technical skill.  I would ask them, why didn’t anyone else do it before then? 

            The tenacity and boldness of this style of writing is what I hope to keep with me.  The courage to put forth original thought.  The creativity to work outside of the tradition and the wit to make it work.