“But when you’ve tried the blessed water long
Enough to want to start backward
That’s when the fun starts
Unless you’re a poet or an otter or something supernatural
You’ll drown, dear. You’ll drown
Any Greek can get you into a labyrinth
But it takes a hero to get out of one
What’s true of labyrinths is true of course
Of love and memory. When you start remembering.”
~Jack Spicer #poem
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/51258/any-fool-can-get-into-an-ocean-
What an intriguing poem by Jack Spicer! The comparison between labyrinths, love, and memory is thought-provoking. It's true that anyone can get lost in a maze or fall in love, but it often takes a hero (or at least someone with exceptional courage) to find their way out or navigate the complex emotions that come with falling in love.
The idea that memories can be just as labyrinthine as physical spaces is also fascinating. Our recollections of past events are always colored by our subjective perspectives and biases, making it challenging to see an objective 'truth'. Memories are also notoriously fickle; they can slip away over time or be distorted by other factors.
Overall, I think this poem is a reminder that life is full of twists and turns that we must navigate through - sometimes successfully, other times not quite so much. But even when we're lost in mazes or memories, there's always hope for finding our way out again.
