Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Sunday Alone in a Fifth Floor Apartment, Cambridge, Massachusetts," William Matthews captures the quiet, introspective experience of a solitary day. The poem begins with a mundane yet familiar ritual: retrieving the newspapers, "The Globe at the door, a jaunt / to the square for the Sunday Times." This simple action sets the tone for a day marked by the small, comforting routines of solitude.

As the day progresses, the poet notes that the path made earlier "has healed, / anyone may use it." This metaphor suggests the transient nature of human activity and the impermanence of our presence in a space. The passage of time is subtly underscored by the description of the weather: "Fast clouds tug / their moorings of rain, bent / like a wet field in the wind." The imagery evokes a dynamic, almost restless atmosphere, as the weather shifts and changes, mirroring the introspective mood of the day.

The poem transitions to a moment of reflection as "it's almost dusk," and the speaker observes the sun setting "beneath the curds of clouds." The use of "curds" evokes a thick, heavy texture, suggesting the dense, overcast sky. The speaker opens the window, likening it to "leaving / the door to the shower stall open." This simile captures the mingling of the outside world with the interior space, a metaphor for the blending of the external environment with the internal state of mind.

As the evening settles in, the ambient sounds become more pronounced. The "few bars / from the Linz Symphony" float in, described as "an exact crack in a damp wall / of white noise." This music, juxtaposed against the mundane sounds of the city—"the dial tone, the breathing / of sleepers, the dub-dub of a car's left / tires smattering the manhole cover / on Ware St."—creates a juxtaposition between the everyday and the sublime. The music provides a moment of escape, a brief lift from the monotony of daily life.

The speaker acknowledges the "music of others" as being "almost enough," suggesting a shared experience of solitude and a connection to a wider world through these sounds. However, the speaker decides to "put on / a record to be sure," seeking a more deliberate engagement with music, perhaps as a way to fill the silence and enhance the mood. The choice to play a record indicates a desire for a more curated, personal experience, one that might evoke a stronger emotional response.

The poem culminates in a vivid, intimate image: the light at the end of the day "seems to come from inside / the cloud bellies, like the rash that breaks out / just below the skin over a woman's breasts / as orgasm comes on, and on, and goes." This comparison captures a moment of intense, fleeting beauty, a blend of natural light and a deeply personal, physical experience. The simile draws a parallel between the ephemeral nature of an orgasm and the transient quality of dusk, both moments of heightened sensation and release.

"Sunday Alone in a Fifth Floor Apartment, Cambridge, Massachusetts" is a meditation on solitude, the passage of time, and the quiet comforts of a day spent alone. Matthews skillfully captures the subtle shifts in light, weather, and mood, weaving these observations with the introspective experience of listening to music and reflecting on the day's quiet moments. The poem resonates with a sense of peaceful isolation, where the simple pleasures of routine and the natural world offer solace and a deeper connection to oneself. Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to appreciate the quiet, often unnoticed details that make up a solitary day.

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