Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Laughlin's poem "An Anginal Equivalent" is a meditation on the inevitability of aging and death. The speaker reflects on his own mortality, noting the subtle ways in which his body has begun to betray him. He describes feeling a tightness in his chest that he likens to angina, a medical condition that is often associated with heart disease. This physical symptom becomes a metaphor for the broader sense of unease and anxiety that pervades the poem.

The language of the poem is spare and straightforward, with short, simple sentences that convey a sense of resignation and acceptance. The imagery is often mundane, as the speaker describes everyday scenes such as the clattering of dishes and the sound of a bird's cry. These details serve to ground the poem in reality and emphasize the speaker's sense of the ordinary passing of time.

Overall, "An Anginal Equivalent" is a poignant and contemplative exploration of mortality, expressed through the lens of a single bodily sensation. The poem acknowledges the inevitability of decline and decay, yet also suggests that there can be a kind of peace in accepting this reality.

Poem Snippet:

"And all this equanimity was bound

to mean nothing in the end. The plates would

rattle, the bird bawl, and the glasses

spill over, no matter what I did."

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