# XXIX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Mina Loy.

## What happens

A poetic meditation on evolution, sexual equality, and the failure of language to bridge human isolation. The chapter critiques unnatural selection and the miscommunication between genders, urging a turn toward authentic, seismic connection rather than self-distortion in the alien ego.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sexuality and Gender

The poem directly addresses sexual equality, unnatural selection, and the clash between genders, advocating for differentiation and authentic orgasmic connection.

### Alienation and Belonging

Explores the inability to interpret each other's 'cryptonyms' and the distortion of self in the 'alien ego,' highlighting profound alienation.

## Key lines

> Evolution fall foul of Sexual equality Prettily miscalculate Similitude Unnatural selection

Evolution fails to achieve true sexual equality, miscalculating similarity and promoting unnatural selection.

_Critique of societal and biological norms around gender and reproduction._

> Let them suppose that tears Are snowdrops or molasses Or anything Than human insufficiencies

Let them imagine tears as sweet or beautiful rather than signs of human inadequacy.

_Highlights the tendency to romanticize or misread emotional expression._

> Let them clash together From the incognitoes In seismic orgasm For far further Differentiation Rather than watch Own-self distortion Wince in the alien ego

Let them meet as strangers in a powerful, transformative union that fosters deeper individuality, rather than observing their own self-distortion reflected in another.

_Advocates for authentic, transformative connection over narcissistic self-reflection._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se/chapters/xxix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_17_se/chapters