Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker’s poem "Helium" poignantly reflects on the passage of time, the inevitable decline of aging, and the ways in which we cope with the loss of vitality and the specter of mortality. Through the metaphor of a deflating helium balloon, Ostriker explores the bittersweet emotions that accompany the recognition of life’s fragility and the desire to release burdens, even as we are unsure of where that release will take us.

The poem opens with a seemingly mundane observation: the speaker and her partner notice that the "balloon was finally / Beginning to give up the ghost." This metaphorical language immediately imbues the scene with a sense of foreboding and loss. The balloon, with its once vibrant "silver and blue" color and cheerful "Happy Birthday" message, has been a constant presence in their lives for a month, "hovering / Up at the ceiling like a genial visitor from another planet." The balloon, much like the memories or experiences we hold onto, has lingered longer than expected, becoming a symbol of something more profound than just a party decoration.

The speaker’s partner points out that the balloon is now "inches below the ceiling," with "puckers in it like human skin, / Like the skin of old people." This comparison to aging skin subtly shifts the poem’s focus from the balloon to the inevitable decline of the human body. The reference to the puckered balloon invites a contemplation of the physical changes that come with aging, serving as a visual reminder of the vulnerability and impermanence of life.

The poem then delves into a specific memory of "George, my mother’s husband," who is significantly older than the speaker and her partner. George's struggles with aging—"Forgetting to zip his fly, forgetting to wash / Or shave or wipe himself"—are depicted with stark realism, highlighting the indignities that often accompany old age. His repeated warning, "Jerry, don’t get old," delivered "in a voice like someone banging / On a hollow pipe," echoes throughout the poem, underscoring the anxiety and fear that aging can provoke, especially for those who witness it in others.

In response to the recognition of the balloon’s decline—and by extension, the awareness of their own mortality—Jerry decides to "cut the balloon’s tether." This act of release, done with a sense of quiet resolve, symbolizes a desire to let go of the burdens of aging and the inevitability of decline. The couple’s decision to "stand in the street and watch you release it" becomes a moment of catharsis, a symbolic gesture of relinquishing control and accepting the uncertainties of life.

As the balloon ascends, it "missed the maples in our front yard," catches a breeze, and "was becoming distant from us." This imagery evokes a sense of liberation, as the balloon’s slow rise contrasts with the weight of the emotions that have been attached to it. However, its sudden disappearance "behind a neighbor’s copper beech" introduces an element of ambiguity. The couple waits, but when they can no longer see the balloon, they return to their daily routine, "took the New York Times / From the driveway and went on in for breakfast."

The poem concludes with a reflection on the uncertainty of the balloon’s fate: "your balloon was either still ascending / Or stopped in the arms of a tree. We couldn’t know which, / And we were glad of this." This uncertainty becomes a source of comfort rather than anxiety. The couple’s acceptance of not knowing the balloon’s final destination mirrors the broader acceptance of life’s mysteries and the inability to predict or control the future. The acknowledgment that the balloon might still be ascending—or it might be caught in a tree—allows them to find peace in the present moment.

"Helium" is a meditation on the tension between holding on and letting go, between the fear of aging and the acceptance of life’s transience. Ostriker uses the simple image of a deflating balloon to explore complex emotions related to mortality, aging, and the human need for release. The poem’s gentle tone and subtle shifts in imagery create a poignant narrative that resonates with the universal experience of grappling with the passage of time and the desire to find meaning and solace in life’s inevitable uncertainties.

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