Carolyn Kizer's "Dream of a Large Lady" is a contemplative poem that weaves together themes of futility, symbolism, and the search for connection. Through a narrative that moves from an elevated position of contemplation to a mundane yet intimate conclusion, the poem explores the inner life of its protagonist, a large lady, who grapples with her unfulfilled intentions and the potential for meaningful interaction. The poem begins with the lady descending from a gun emplacement, an act that immediately sets up a contrast between the elevated, militaristic setting and her civilian presence. "The large lady laboriously climbs / down the ladder from a gun emplacement." Her initial goal—to contemplate the view and damage the gun—remains unfulfilled: "She has done neither / for the view was a baize haze / and the rooted gun immovable in stone." This imagery paints a picture of futility and immobility. The gun, symbolic of war and destruction, is impervious to her efforts, rooted firmly in its place. The lady's descent down the "shaky ladder / with a few rungs missing" mirrors her descent from lofty aspirations to grounded reality. Her picnic lunch, of which she has only consumed a single hard-boiled egg, symbolizes this incomplete attempt at fulfillment: "carrying her mostly uneaten / picnic lunch / of which she has consumed a single / hard-boiled egg / leaving the shell / not as litter but as symbolism." The egg shell, left on the gun, serves as a poignant metaphor for her futile effort to alter the warlike nature of the world around her, an attempt to impose her own meaning on an unyielding reality. Upon reaching the ground, the lady encounters a stark, desolate landscape: "At the foot of the ladder she finds sand; / and one brown, shuttered house / from which another lady / stares." The other lady, with her "blurry face" and "orange dress," represents another layer of ambiguity and mystery. The vivid description of her matching orange hair adds a surreal, dreamlike quality to the encounter. As the large lady walks along the beach, her movements are likened to those of a "large, pale water-bird," enhancing the sense of isolation and detachment. Her high-heeled pumps, impractical for the beach, emphasize her incongruity with her surroundings: "The large lady perforates along the beach / on her high-heeled pumps / by the water’s verge, / as a large, pale water-bird might do." The poem takes a turn when the lady reaches her own cottage and finds a letter from the mysterious orange lady. The letter expresses admiration for her poetry and offers a gesture of friendship: "I am an admirer of your poesy, / so I am baking you a fresh peach pie." This simple note introduces a potential for connection and understanding, contrasting sharply with the earlier themes of futility and isolation. The lady's internal response to the letter reflects a longing for companionship and mutual appreciation: "Do come to my house near the bay, / she speaks in her head, / Orange lady who admires my poesy." The imagined scene of the two women sharing tea in quiet twilight signifies a desire for peace and human connection, a stark contrast to the earlier imagery of the immovable gun and desolate beach. The poem concludes with the lady setting aside the memory of the grey gun and holding onto a vision of the egg shell, now a symbol of her enduring hope and creativity: "With a sigh, she puts aside the memory / of the grey gun she could only decorate / but not destroy. / Though clear in her eye she holds a vision; / the thin, ceremonious shell / of her eaten egg / painted by the sun against the sky." This ending encapsulates the central tension of the poem: the struggle between the harsh realities of the world and the persistent hope for beauty and connection. In "Dream of a Large Lady," Kizer masterfully balances the surreal and the mundane, using vivid imagery and symbolism to explore themes of futility, creativity, and human connection. The poem's structure, moving from the elevated gun emplacement to the intimate setting of a shared meal, mirrors the protagonist's journey from lofty aspirations to grounded reality, ultimately suggesting that even in the face of unyielding obstacles, there remains a space for hope and personal connection. |