Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Instructions to the Double" is a poem by Tess Gallagher that was first published in 1995. The poem explores themes of identity and self-discovery through the use of imagery and metaphor.

Explanation:

The poem begins with the speaker addressing her "double," a reflection of herself that she sees in a mirror. The speaker implores her double to "take off the mask" and reveal the true identity that lies beneath. She encourages the double to "show the many lives" that have been lived, rather than just the "public" one that is typically presented to the world.

The speaker then turns her attention to the "mask" itself, which she describes as a "hardened shell." She instructs the double to break free from this shell and allow the true self to emerge. The speaker uses imagery of nature, such as a "moth breaking from its cocoon," to illustrate this idea of transformation.

As the poem progresses, the speaker urges the double to embrace the complexities of life and the contradictions within oneself. She encourages the double to "take the difficult path," even if it means going against societal norms or expectations.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme or meter.
• Imagery: The poem makes use of nature imagery, such as the moth breaking from its cocoon and the "tangled roots" of a tree, to explore the themes of transformation and complexity.
• Metaphor: The "double" is used as a metaphor for the hidden, true self that is often concealed behind societal expectations and norms.

Conclusion:

"Instructions to the Double" is a poem that encourages self-discovery and the exploration of the complexities of the self. Through the use of metaphor and imagery, Gallagher urges her readers to embrace their true selves and break free from the societal norms and expectations that can constrain them.

Poem Snippet:

"Take off the mask

and show the many lives,

not just the public one."

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