Of Mere Being by Wallace Stevens

I like Wallace Stevens' writing. I liked the poem Disillusionment at Ten O'Clock. Of Mere Being is a bit more coherent than Disillusionment at Ten O'Clock, but it still has several possible interpretations, as demonstrated in class. To me, the poem is about life beyond human experience. Stevens seems want the reader think about the simplicity of things. Not everything has another meaning. The bird in the palm just is, it doesn't mean anything, it just is. Some people in class thought that the poem has to do with religion. I can see that, but I don't necessarily think that it is specifically about religion. I think has more to do with the feeling that existing on a basic level gives a person. It reminded me of when I go hiking and feel an inner peace because I am surrounded by nature, a beautiful thing that will exist whether or not I do. It is a freeing feeling because it releases me from all obligations, for a while at least. I would classify this as faith or spiritual, not religious. I think this is the idea represented by the palm at the end of the mind. In class someone made the observation that the bird was probably a phoenix. This idea stuck with me because a phoenix usually represents rebirth. This idea lines up with my idea of faith. When I go hiking, or some other activity with similar effects, it is kind of like a cleansing. I am rejuvenated and re-centered. This could be considered a rebirth on a small scale.