Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Taxi After An Evening Shower" by David Baker is a vivid, atmospheric poem that captures a moment of raw human emotion and the ethereal beauty of a cityscape transformed by rain. Through the lens of a taxi ride, Baker explores themes of human fragility, the search for connection, and the relentless pace of urban life.

The poem opens with a striking image of a man, "saying no no" and "moaning jesus christ," his despair palpable as he presses his forehead against the fogged side window. This man, described as "one shade from beautiful," embodies a profound sense of brokenness that resonates throughout the poem. The contrast between his inner turmoil and the physical dryness of his face suggests a deep, unspoken sorrow that transcends the immediate context.

The taxi, illuminated by a blue glow and likened to "a cheap, cluttered room," becomes a microcosm of the city's larger narrative—a space where personal stories of pain and resilience unfold against the backdrop of urban anonymity. The driver, referred to as "his friend," is depicted as "broken down, black stone," further emphasizing the theme of shared suffering and the weight of unvoiced grief that characters in the poem carry.

As the taxi navigates through the city, the post-rain environment is rendered with vivid imagery: "lights in the walls of the numinous sky," "people in overcoats, dodging," and the "roughed up and polished" city-blur. These descriptions create a sense of movement and transformation, where the rain acts as both a literal and metaphorical cleansing force, revealing the hidden contours and complexities of the urban landscape.

The poem's concluding lines, "There is only one sadness, one speed," capture the essence of the human condition as experienced in the rush of city life. The repetition of "one" underscores a universal feeling of melancholy that binds the poem's characters together, despite their apparent isolation. The notion of "one speed" reflects the inexorable forward momentum of time and the collective drive to move through moments of despair and towards an uncertain future.

"Taxi After An Evening Shower" is a masterful blend of sensory detail, emotional depth, and existential reflection. Through the intimate setting of a taxi ride and the transformative effects of an evening shower, David Baker invites readers to contemplate the fleeting connections and shared vulnerabilities that define our lives amidst the ceaseless flow of the urban experience.