Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer's "Pearl" is a haunting exploration of the complex relationships between a child, her mother, and Pearl, the woman who comes every Thursday to care for the mother with dedication and precision. The poem delves into themes of beauty, loss, and the deep emotional scars left by past traumas, rendered through vivid, intimate imagery and a poignant narrative voice.

The poem begins with a description of Pearl's arrival and her ritualistic care for the mother: "Every Thursday Pearl arrived in her old Model-A / with a satchel of lotions cremes and balms / to make over Mother." This sets the scene for the weekly transformation, emphasizing the meticulous care Pearl provides. The physical transformation of the mother is detailed with almost clinical precision: "Mother lay on her ample belly / as Pearl pummelled, rubbed, massaged / the firm fleshy back of Mother / till it turned from sweaty peach to glistening crimson." The use of color imagery here captures the intensity and thoroughness of Pearl's ministrations.

As the poem progresses, the focus shifts to the relationship between the mother and Pearl, observed by the child: "the witness-child / stares at the face of her mother, upside-down / between brown curtains of hair." This perspective highlights the child's role as an observer, distanced from the intimate bond shared between her mother and Pearl. The child's disapproval of the harsh-colored henna further underscores her feeling of being an outsider in this intimate ritual.

Pearl's own tragic history is subtly woven into the narrative, adding depth to her character: "Pearl, frantic with a croupy daughter, / frightened of losing days / of work with Madame Patenaud, her termagent employer, / had forced her own little girl to swallow her medicine. / But what was hastily thrust between the child's burning lips / was Lysol. The little girl abandoned her. / Pearl is alone forever." This backstory explains Pearl's dedication to her work and her stoic demeanor, haunted by the loss of her own child due to a tragic mistake.

The child imagines Pearl as a hollow figure: "Now this child imagines Pearl as hollow, / a decorated funerary urn / set on an altar not to God but Beauty." This metaphor captures Pearl's outward dedication to beauty while hinting at the emptiness within her. The imagery of Pearl as a funerary urn underscores the sense of mourning and loss that permeates her existence.

The poem moves through various scenes of care and beauty rituals, with Pearl as a central figure: "Pearl paints Mother's toenails propped on the sink." The child grapples with her feelings of exclusion and her desire to be part of the beauty ritual: "She who grimaces hideously in the mirror, / puffing her cheeks or putting out her tongue, / is stuck, she fears forever, / with this pudding oval which no hand molds."

As the poem reaches its conclusion, the relationship between the mother and the child is revisited: "As we grow older, Mother, you close the distances between us, / with kisses, dresses, tiny conspiracies. / We cuddle beneath one comforter, serene and mild." This closing image of reconciliation and intimacy contrasts with the haunting presence of Pearl and her tragic history.

The final lines are a poignant reflection on the child's imagined connection to Pearl: "But Pearl, O Pearl, I would have been your heart's fulfillment. / I was your prodigy, your dream of life. / I was your murdered child." These lines encapsulate the deep emotional resonance of the poem, suggesting that the child sees herself as a potential source of solace and redemption for Pearl, if only circumstances had been different.

"Pearl" by Carolyn Kizer is a deeply evocative and multi-layered poem that explores themes of beauty, loss, and the intricate bonds between women. Through its vivid imagery and poignant narrative, the poem captures the enduring impact of past traumas and the complex interplay of care, duty, and love.