San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
California Poetry
Walt Whitman was a visionary poet who boldly addressed 19th century America. He inspired some of Pablo Neruda’s civic poems about the landscape and culture of Chile. Dean Rader channels both poets in his recent book, “Self-Portrait as Wikipedia Entry.” His expansive view of our country moves between frustration and excitement, sadness and beauty. “America, I Do Not Call Your Name Without Hope” exemplifies Rader’s range of feeling. The poem echoes the kind of violence that built America, especially slavery, colonialism and the ravaging of the landscape during Western expansion. Despite the poem’s dark tones, there is indeed hope here in good measure. And a dose of motivation we need as we approach election day.
After Neruda
America, I do not call your name without hope not even when you lay your knife against my throat or lace my hands behind my back, the cuffs connecting us like two outlaws trying to escape history’s white horse, its heavy whip a pistolshot in the ear. Lost land, this is a song for the scars on your back, for your blistered feet and beautiful watch, it is for your windmills, your leavened machines, for your fists. It is for your wagon of blood, for your dogs and their teeth of fire, for your sons and the smoke in their hearts. This is for your verbs, your long lurk, your whir.
This is for you and your fear, your tar, for the white heat in your skin and for your blue bones that one day may sing.
This is for your singing. This is for the past, but not for what’s passed. This is for daybreak and backbreak, for dreams and for darkness.
This song is not for your fight but it is a song for fighting. It is a song of flame but not for burning.
It is a song out of breath but a plea for breathing.
It is the song I will sing when you knock on my door, my son’s name in your mouth.
“America, I Do Not Call Your Name without Hope” is from “SelfPortrait as Wikipedia Entry” (c) 2017 by Dean Rader. The poem appears with the permission of Copper Canyon Press. All rights reserved.
Dean Rader is the author of multiple books, including “SelfPortrait as Wikipedia Entry.” He is a professor at the University of San Francisco and lives in San Francisco with his wife and sons.
David Roderick is the author of the poetry collections “Blue Colonial” and “The Americans.” He is co-founder of Left Margin Lit: A Home for the Literary Arts, in Berkeley.