Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Slowly He Starts" by Sharon Olds is a contemplative and poignant reflection on the gradual emotional distancing from a once-close partner, likely an ex-husband. Through the use of vivid metaphors and delicate imagery, Olds captures the sensation of watching a loved one drift away both physically and emotionally, becoming a figure of memory and imagination rather than a present reality. The poem explores themes of loss, memory, and the process of letting go, while also acknowledging the lingering attachment that can persist long after a relationship has ended.

The poem begins with the description of the man, now distant, seeming to "waft, drift / at a distance." This initial imagery suggests a lightness and insubstantiality, as if the man has become less tangible and more ephemeral in the speaker's perception. The "grey suit with the shimmer to its weave" adds a touch of elegance and otherworldliness, making him appear almost spectral. The comparison to "damselfly wings" further emphasizes his light, delicate, and almost magical presence, as if he is being gently carried away by unseen forces.

As the poem progresses, Olds likens the man to a "Chagall bridegroom," referencing the famous painter Marc Chagall known for his dreamlike, floating figures. This comparison evokes a sense of surrealism and romanticism, suggesting that the man is now more of a dreamlike figure than a real person. The mention of his lack of "faithfulness" or the idea of "a faithfulness which can change brides once" introduces the notion of infidelity or changeability, hinting at the reasons for their separation. He is described as being "carried, on a current, like a creature of a slightly other species," highlighting the growing sense of otherness and alienation.

The poem continues to explore this imagery of distance and transformation, likening the man to a "silent meteor, summer shower of perseids," suggesting something beautiful yet fleeting, a momentary spectacle. His calm, "heavy-lidded" eyes imply a serene, almost detached state, further distancing him from the grounded reality. The speaker expresses relief in not having "lost him entirely" but acknowledges his presence as something that can be moved "at the whim of the sky," indicating a lack of control over the situation.

Olds delves into the realization that she "did not know him," but rather her "idea of him." This line reveals a deep introspection about the nature of their relationship, suggesting that what she held onto was not the person himself but her perception or idealization of him. The metaphor of the "skin of my heart" lying "along the skin of some naked heart" captures the raw and exposed feeling of early heartbreak, the intense connection and subsequent vulnerability.

The poem's climax involves the speaker observing the "invisible streams" that "show themselves, in their motions of him," as he drifts above a playground, casting a "narrow shadow over the faces in the carriages in the park." This image suggests that while he still casts a shadow or influence, he is removed from the lives around him, including the speaker's. The speaker's acknowledgment, "I am in here!" signifies a realization of her own separation from the past and the shifting dynamic.

The final metaphor of the man as a "silver kite" beautifully encapsulates the theme of letting go. The speaker describes holding onto the string and watching her "idea of him pull away and stay, and pull away." This imagery conveys the duality of memory and emotional attachment—how one can simultaneously hold onto and release a past relationship. The kite symbolizes something precious and delicate, yet distant and ungraspable, representing the way memories of loved ones can linger in our minds, beautiful yet unreachable.

"Slowly He Starts" is a tender and introspective poem that navigates the complexities of moving on from a past relationship. Sharon Olds masterfully uses ethereal and delicate imagery to illustrate the fading presence of a loved one, the idealization of relationships, and the bittersweet nature of memories. The poem captures the gradual process of emotional separation, the realization of the ideal versus the reality, and the eventual acceptance of change, all while maintaining a sense of poetic beauty and emotional depth.

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