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Y'CALL SOMEPLACE PARADISE, KISS IT GOODBYE, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Albert Goldbarth's poem "Y'Call Someplace Paradise, Kiss It Goodbye" weaves a narrative that captures the delicate interplay between memory, nostalgia, and the relentless passage of time. Through a mixture of personal recollection and cultural commentary, Goldbarth explores how places and moments we once considered idyllic often become tainted or lost, leaving us to grapple with their remnants.

The poem opens with a reference to a faded fifteenth-century painting of the Expulsion, which sets the stage for the theme of departure and loss. The imagery of "every tendril is inflexible with that directive" and the "gray man and gray woman" heading "off the page" into "nothing-gray" evokes a sense of irrevocable departure. This visual metaphor underscores the inevitability of change and the departure from an erstwhile paradise, echoing the sentiment of the Eagles' lyric that titles the poem.

Goldbarth's masterful use of language continues as he shifts to personal memories from his childhood, particularly those centered around a 1950s dimestore. The vivid descriptions of the "arc-and-plash in the plastic fountain of orangeade," the "cap guns and their red rows of prosciutto-like spirals of caps," and the "cheap colognes" immerse the reader in a bygone era. These details serve as touchstones of a simpler time, evoking the innocence and wonder of youth.

However, this nostalgia is tinged with the recognition of underlying tensions and prejudices that were part of that era. The poem recounts a specific incident involving a couple—possibly interracial—who were ejected from the store. Goldbarth's uncertain recollection of whether the couple's transgression was their behavior, race, or a bulge of shoplifted goods highlights the way memories can become distorted over time. This uncertainty reflects the complexities and ambiguities of societal norms and personal experiences.

The poem's middle section delves deeper into the cultural and social dynamics of the time. The "hairnetted guardians" who enforce the store's rules represent the rigid, conservative values of the 1950s. Their sternness and the act of "thumping the couple into the street" symbolize the exclusionary practices that were prevalent in society. Goldbarth's mother yanking him away from the scene to protect him from its "confused transgressions" further emphasizes the generational divide and the desire to shield children from the harsh realities of the world.

As the poem progresses, the passage of time becomes a central theme. Goldbarth reflects on the forty years that have passed since that dimestore incident, acknowledging how much has changed and how his own understanding of those events has evolved. The line "What did I know? —I was five, and even my terrors were innocent" poignantly captures the innocence of childhood and the naiveté that accompanies it. This reflection underscores the loss of innocence and the realization that the paradises of our past were often flawed and incomplete.

In the final lines, Goldbarth brings the reader back to the present, where the once-vivid memories have become "dizzying circles powered by thousands of gerbil wheels." This metaphor suggests the relentless and often futile nature of trying to recapture or make sense of the past. The "gerbil wheels" symbolize the repetitive and cyclical nature of memory and nostalgia, where we continually revisit and reinterpret our experiences, yet never fully grasp or resolve them.

"Y'Call Someplace Paradise, Kiss It Goodbye" is a richly layered poem that explores the intersections of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time. Through his evocative imagery and reflective narrative, Goldbarth invites readers to consider how our perceptions of the past are shaped by both personal and cultural forces, and how the paradises we once cherished are often more complex and elusive than we realize.


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