None us in this so
burdened earth has known
how to live, let alone
who is too many.
Presence, each day
afresh, you give a
purifying signal to
sting us alive.
Vast territories and seashores
still bear these thronging
strangers. May none die
without somebody caring.
To know even one other is
costly. And being known.
Alive, among so many
more now? a concern…
Hunger makes men desperate, threatens
to congeal the quandary. Yet
Presence abides untouched
in the churn of Quantity.
In this poem, Margaret Avison evokes the theory of British economist Thomas Malthus on population growth. According to him, the population grow inversely proportional to the amount of food. But as we see in the course of the poem, Avison does not believe that the increase in population density is the only factor that leads to lack of food or other ills of the modern world.
In the first verse, the poet refers to the world we live as hard and difficult (burdened earth), and that we have not yet learned how to live and coexist harmoniously with each other, even though we are so many. In the second verse, Avison mentions God or His son, as a Being who, through their presence encourages us to learn living, even though hardly. Indeed, their very presence encourages to learn how to live in the presence of each other. Thus, the word “presence” can be interpreted in two ways.
In the third verse, the world is described as extensive (vast territory and seashore), which bears the man and his actions. But in spite of so much abundance, men still behave like strangers to each other, avoiding and do not caring about anyone (still bear these thronging strangers. May none die without somebody caring). So we can interpret that hunger does not come only with increasing population, but with its selfishness.
On the viewpoint of Avison, the man’s individualism is s strong that knowing the other becomes something difficult, even costly (To know even one other is costly). And, also, be known, due to the distance among people. Here, the dot suggests the reader a reflection. Survive in a world that has become somewhat wild and populous becomes a challenge, a concern. The ellipsis in the last sentence also lead the reader to their own thoughts and interpretations, as if leaving a message Avison in the air.
In the last verse, Avison shows his concern about the worsening situation, mentioning that hunger brings the despair of the men, ”congealing” the dilemma. But, again, evokes God, demonstrating the hope that their presence could, moreover, supports the torrents of Quantity and humankind selfishness.
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