Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alice Fulton’s poem "Another Troy" paints a vivid picture of Troy, New York, a city grappling with its identity amidst a backdrop of industrial decay and resilient community spirit. Through a rich tapestry of imagery and personal anecdotes, Fulton explores themes of nostalgia, pride, and the quest for meaning in a place often overshadowed by its historical and economic struggles.

The poem opens with a celebration of the Green Island Bridge's collapse, a symbol of the city's industrial past. The bridge, described as a "scowling trigonometry of overwrought iron from the 1800s," embodies the weight of history and the grandeur of past engineering feats. The community's response—dancing all night and printing tee-shirts to commemorate the event—reflects a collective resilience and a penchant for finding joy and solidarity in shared experiences, even in the face of destruction.

Fulton’s use of "we loved a ruin" captures a profound attachment to the remnants of the past, a sentiment echoed throughout the poem. This nostalgia is not just for the physical structures but for the communal identity and history they represent. The image of dyeing hair with toothbrushes and "sauntering in electroplated glory by the river" encapsulates the youthful rebellion and the search for individuality within the confines of a small, industrial town.

The poem juxtaposes the modern with the historical, contrasting the raw, sometimes grimy reality of contemporary Troy with the idealized landscapes of the Hudson River School. The "species Trojan, condoms bobbed above the current after Happy Hours" serves as a stark, almost humorous reminder of the town’s gritty present, while also highlighting the disconnect between romanticized visions of the past and the everyday realities of life.

Fulton addresses the city's attempts to rebrand itself with slogans like "City of Friendly Service" and "Home of Uncle Sam," which she dismisses as "failures of imagination." This critique extends to her own imaginative escapades, envisioning dramatic, apocalyptic scenarios that would force the world to take notice of Troy. These daydreams of "fires coasting down from heaven" and "an erupting Italian restaurant" reflect a desire for transformation and recognition, albeit through fantastical means.

A local poet’s sonnet, in which Fulton is cast as "Signorita Mount Saint Helens," underscores the intersection of personal and communal identity. Her frustration with being typecast as the Muse, and the poet's subsequent rejection of her activism, speaks to the broader theme of gender roles and the limitations imposed on women's expressions of rebellion and creativity. Fulton’s declaration that being cast as the Muse "makes arsonists of women who aren't fools" is a powerful assertion of agency and resistance against being confined to passive roles.

The poem's conclusion shifts from the past to a more reflective present, where Fulton acknowledges the enduring character of Troy. The once "rough edges" of the city now appear as "character," a testament to the city's resilience and unique identity. The imagery of "icicles dangling like syringes from friezes" and "roses battened down with sackcloth" conveys a stark, yet beautiful, portrait of survival and endurance through harsh conditions.

Fulton's final lines, offering "Troy-the City without Glibness" as a "spartan tribute," encapsulate the poem’s central theme: an honest, unvarnished appreciation of Troy’s true nature. This portrayal eschews superficial attempts at rebranding or romanticizing, instead embracing the city's authenticity and the deep-rooted connections of its inhabitants.

"Another Troy" is a richly layered poem that captures the complexity of place, identity, and memory. Through vivid imagery and personal reflection, Alice Fulton weaves a narrative that honors the past while acknowledging the present, celebrating the resilience and spirit of a community that finds beauty and meaning in its imperfections and struggles.

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