Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Audre Lorde's poem "My Fifth Trip To Washington Ended In Northeast Delaware," penned in 1972, recounts an experience mired in both physical and metaphorical stagnation. The poem opens with a scene of a train journey gone awry, set against a backdrop of inclement weather and the palpable dissatisfaction of passengers who are "stuck in the middle of Delaware and a deluge." However, the simple, repetitive phrase "At least she said" introduces a persistent theme that elevates the poem from mere narrative to a poignant exploration of human condition: our relentless search for consolation in the face of adversity.

The poem seems to operate on dual planes, the physical and the metaphoric. On one level, it delineates the inconveniences and frustrations that come with an interrupted journey-wet shoes, restless children, melting frozen juice, and souring mayonnaise. Yet, on another level, it reflects on existential issues, particularly the sense of inertia and unfulfillment that permeates the lives of the individuals involved. The phrase "damp and disappointed in our rumpled-up convictions" serves as a microcosm of broader societal disillusionments, evoking the climate of the early 1970s, an era marked by political upheaval, social unrest, and a pervasive sense of cynicism.

The repetitive chant of "At least she said" throughout the poem serves to elevate the trivial to the metaphorical. The speaker recounts small, frustrating events-the leaky windows, the fussing children, the dwindling supplies-yet each incident is offset by this refrain, as though attempting to extract some solace from every setback. This resonates as a coping mechanism, a mantra repeated in an attempt to mollify the frustrations and disappointments of life. However, the ending phrase, "The Indians Aren't Attacking," introduces a jarring note, complicating this search for consolation.

At face value, this line appears dismissive, almost flippant, in juxtaposing the travelers' relatively minor problems with the life-and-death struggles of historical confrontations between settlers and Native Americans. However, this seemingly incongruous line is laden with irony, drawing attention to the superficiality and myopia of their 'rumpled-up convictions.' It recalls the wider injustices and atrocities on which the American nation is founded and forces the reader to confront the reality that the comforts and frustrations of contemporary life exist against a backdrop of historical violence and dispossession.

In this way, the poem not only serves as a snapshot of a specific moment of inconvenience but also functions as a critique of the complacency and self-centeredness that can blind individuals to broader social and historical contexts. The speaker's experience becomes an allegory for the disillusionment and discontent that characterized the period, touching on the collective psyche of an era rife with social and political turmoil.

Overall, "My Fifth Trip To Washington Ended In Northeast Delaware" effectively captures the disquiet and disappointment of a moment, while simultaneously drawing attention to broader existential and ethical concerns. In detailing a journey that never reaches its destination, Lorde crafts a metaphor for the unfulfilled aspirations and thwarted movements of an era, urging the reader to reconsider not just the direction but the purpose of their own journey through life.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...