Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Albert Goldbarth’s poem “Hey Sweetie” deftly explores the complexities and nuances of names and labels, illustrating how they reflect more about the namer than the named. Through a series of vivid and contrasting images, Goldbarth dissects the multifaceted nature of identity and perception, particularly in relation to women and the night, and ultimately delves into the realm of fear and comfort.

The poem begins with a striking juxtaposition of the terms we use to describe women: “housewife, honey, whore.” These labels carry connotations and judgments, revealing societal attitudes and individual biases. By listing these terms, Goldbarth highlights the reductive and often contradictory ways women are categorized. The line prompts readers to consider how language can both confine and define, and how these labels reflect the perspectives of those who use them more than the intrinsic qualities of the women themselves.

Next, Goldbarth shifts to the night, employing a series of evocative and surreal metaphors: “O Mother of Terrors. Soft, Black, Velvet Horse's Nostril I Worm Through. Braille Rainbows Under The Blanket.” These descriptions personify the night in various forms, each conveying a different aspect of its character. The night is simultaneously a source of fear, comfort, mystery, and intimacy. By describing the night in such varied terms, Goldbarth underscores how our perceptions are shaped by our emotions and experiences. The night becomes a canvas onto which we project our fears, desires, and dreams.

Goldbarth’s assertion that “Names [are] telling more about the namer” serves as a thematic cornerstone for the poem. This line encapsulates the idea that the labels we assign to people, objects, and experiences reveal our own biases, fears, and fantasies. The way we name and describe things is a reflection of our internal world, more so than an objective truth about the external world.

The poem then transitions to a more personal and nostalgic tone, recalling the speaker’s childhood need for a night light to fall asleep. This need for a small, comforting light symbolizes a desire for security and reassurance in the face of darkness and the unknown. The mention of specific night lights—a fish-shaped dimestore light and a Flash Gordon glow-in-the-dark ring—adds a layer of specificity and intimacy, grounding the abstract themes in tangible memories. The speaker’s recollection of telling bedtime stories to his sister further emphasizes the human need for connection and comfort in the dark.

The poem’s final section shifts to a more dramatic scene: a businessman in distress during a flight. The “iced-up bowel of fear” vividly conveys his intense anxiety, while the description of him being “blanched and sweating” paints a picture of physical and emotional turmoil. In this moment of fear, he calls the flight attendant “angel,” a term that conveys a desperate need for comfort and salvation. This use of “angel” illustrates the power of naming as a coping mechanism, a way to impose order and hope in a chaotic and frightening situation.

Goldbarth leaves readers with the poignant observation that in moments of extreme fear and vulnerability, names and labels take on a heightened significance. The businessman’s desperate invocation of “angel” highlights how language can serve as a lifeline, a way to grasp at something stable and reassuring when everything else feels out of control.

In “Hey Sweetie,” Goldbarth masterfully intertwines themes of naming, perception, fear, and comfort. Through his vivid imagery and reflective tone, he invites readers to consider how the labels we use shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. The poem underscores the idea that names are not just descriptors, but powerful tools that reveal our deepest fears, desires, and identities.

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