A. R. 에몬즈의 시와 동양의 관(觀)

초록

As might be expected from an heir to the Transcendental tradition of Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman, Ammons's poetry shows an abiding interest in Oriental thought, especially Taoism. In interviews he actually acknowledged his debt to Lao-tse, further stating, "When I was younger, I read a good deal, finally coming to Lao-tse.... That's my philosophical source in its most complete version." The act of seeing is central to Ammon's poetry because he encounters the world through the eye. Ever aware that man invariably is restricted to a tunnel vision, being caught up in his narrow concerns, Ammons tries to break out of it and extend his vision through astronomy and biology and also by way of Oriental philosophy, more specifically Taoist and Buddhist contemplations. Contemplation in Taoist and Buddhist traditions is another kind of seeing, to which Eastern mystics refer as a mode of perception that progresses from the visual to the non-sensory, transcendental, and mystical, as they turn their attention inward to discover the ultimate. In other words, the act of seeing culminates in kuan (Buddhist or Taoist contemplation.) While his poetry registers various kinds and levels of seeing, Ammons reminds us that there is "no finality of vision" since we receive "nothing completely," -- hence the need of adapting our vision to Buddhist flux.

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