Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Blues," William Matthews delves into the interplay between memory, emotion, and music, exploring the formative experiences of a young boy learning to play the clarinet. The poem begins with a vivid image of the speaker, a twelve-year-old boy, "a storm clutching a clarinet" as he boards a bus for music lessons. This powerful metaphor sets the stage for a reflection on the turbulent emotions and confusion of adolescence.

The speaker reflects on the pieces he had to learn "by heart," juxtaposing the technical memorization required for music with the more abstract concept of the heart as the seat of emotions. At twelve, the speaker notes, one might mistakenly believe "the heart and memory are different." This line hints at the interconnectedness of emotion and memory, a theme that Matthews weaves throughout the poem. The reference to the Queen's remark in *Alice in Wonderland*, "'It's a poor sort of memory that only works / backwards,'" underscores the complexity of memory and suggests that it encompasses not just the past but also the present and future potentialities.

Music, particularly jazz, serves as a catalyst for the speaker's emotional exploration. The speaker describes how music can "fill a room, / even with loneliness, which is of course a kind / of company." This paradox captures the essence of the blues—music that expresses sorrow yet provides solace. The mention of Stan Getz and J. J. Johnson playing "My Funny Valentine" evokes a sense of longing and unexpressed emotions, creating a vivid image of the speaker's emotional state during a sweltering August afternoon.

The speaker reflects on his own inability to articulate the "force and weight of what I couldn't / say." The question, "What's an emotion anyhow?" captures the bewilderment of a young boy grappling with complex feelings. The physical sensations of heat and listlessness, described as "Lassitude and sweat lay all about me / like a stubble field," mirror the internal turmoil and confusion. Despite the oppressive heat and the weight of unspoken emotions, the speaker describes himself as "quick and furtive as a fox," suggesting an underlying restlessness and energy.

The poem continues with the speaker acknowledging his "bare eloquence / of the becalmed, the plain speech of the leafless / tree." This imagery suggests a stark, honest self-expression stripped of pretense, much like the blues music he listens to. The speaker's "cunning of my body and a few / bars -- they were enough -- of music" highlights the simple yet profound solace and expression that music provides.

In the final stanzas, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the journey from childhood to adulthood. The image of "that boy tied like a bell around my throat" evokes the enduring impact of one's younger self, with all its fears and hopes, on the present. The speaker describes himself as "a brave man and a coward both," capturing the dual nature of human experience, where courage and fear coexist. The repetition of "to break and break my metronomic heart" suggests the cyclical nature of emotional experiences and the inevitability of heartbreak.

The poem concludes with the speaker's acceptance and understanding of the blues, both as a musical genre and as an emotional experience. The phrase "just enough to learn to love the blues" encapsulates the idea that life's challenges and heartbreaks, while painful, are also necessary for growth and deeper emotional understanding.

"The Blues" by William Matthews is a reflective meditation on the formative power of music, the complexity of emotions, and the growth that comes from experiencing and understanding sadness. The poem captures the transition from youth to maturity, the struggle to articulate and comprehend deep feelings, and the solace that music can provide. Through rich imagery and introspective narrative, Matthews offers a poignant exploration of how the blues, both in music and in life, shape our emotional landscape and understanding of ourselves.

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