Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's poem "On Shabbat She Dances in the Candle Flames" beautifully captures the blending of past and present, heritage and memory, through the voice of a grandmother reminiscing about her life. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the power of tradition, love, and the enduring presence of ancestors in our lives.

The poem opens with a recollection of joyful dancing: "How we danced then, you can't imagine my grandmother said. We danced till we were dizzy, we danced till the room spun like a dreydl, we danced ourselves drunk and giddy, we danced till we fell panting." This image of exuberant dancing sets a vibrant, almost celebratory tone, conveying a sense of release and communal joy despite the hardships faced.

Piercy contrasts the joy of Shabbat with the poverty of everyday life: "We were poor, my grandmother said, a few potatoes, some half rotten beans, greens from the hedgerow. But then on Shabbat we ate a chicken. The candles shone on the golden skin." The ritual of Shabbat, with its special meal and the glow of candles, symbolizes a moment of respite and sanctity amidst the struggles of daily life. The contrast between the simplicity of the weekdays and the richness of Shabbat highlights the significance of these traditions in providing comfort and joy. Shabbat, also known as the Sabbath, is a weekly day of rest and spiritual enrichment in Judaism. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday.

The grandmother's memories shift to her love for her husband: "How I loved him, you can't imagine my grandmother said. He was from St. Petersburg, my father could scarcely believe he was a Jew, he dressed so fine. His eyes burned when he looked at me. He quoted Pushkin instead of Mishnah." These lines convey a deep, passionate love, enriched by cultural and intellectual vibrancy. The husband, with his refined manners and intellectual prowess, stands out as a figure of fascination and admiration.

The narrative continues with the hardships of their escape: "Nine languages and still the Czar wanted him in the Army, where Jews went off but never returned. My father married us from his deathbed. We escaped the Pale under a load of straw. You can't imagine, we were frightened mice." This historical context of fleeing persecution and the fear they lived with paints a poignant picture of their resilience and determination to survive.

The grandmother's legacy is depicted through her children and her enduring presence: "Eleven children I bore, my grandmother said, nine who grew up, four who died before me. Now I sing in your ear. When you pray I stand beside you." These lines underscore the continuation of life and tradition through the generations, despite loss and hardship. The grandmother's spirit remains a guiding and comforting presence for the narrator.

Piercy blends the past with the modern world: "Eliyahu's cup at the seder table is for me, who cooked and never sat down: now I sit enthroned on your computer. Now I am the queen of dustmop tales, I preside over your memory lighting candles that summon the dead." The grandmother's transformation from a hardworking matriarch to a symbolic figure on the narrator's computer represents the merging of tradition with contemporary life. The "queen of dustmop tales" suggests the everyday stories and wisdom that continue to influence and shape the narrator's life.

The poem concludes with the grandmother's intimate and continuous presence: "I touch your lids while you sleep and when you wake, you imagine me." This closing line evokes the deep connection between the past and present, the living and the dead, suggesting that the grandmother's love and legacy remain alive in the narrator's dreams and waking moments.

"On Shabbat She Dances in the Candle Flames" by Marge Piercy is a moving tribute to the power of memory, tradition, and ancestral love. Through rich imagery and heartfelt narrative, Piercy captures the enduring presence of the grandmother, whose spirit continues to guide and inspire, illuminating the narrator's life like the candles of Shabbat.

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