Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Parachutes, My Love, Could Carry Us Higher" by Barbara Guest is an evocative poem that explores themes of uncertainty, intimacy, and the delicate balance between safety and risk. The poem opens with a candid admission: "I just said I didn't know / And now you are holding me / In your arms, How kind." This sets a tone of vulnerability and tenderness, suggesting a moment of comfort in the face of uncertainty.

The repeated line "Parachutes, my love, could carry us higher" serves as both a refrain and a metaphor for escape and elevation. Parachutes, typically associated with safety and a controlled descent, are here reimagined as a means of ascension, hinting at the possibility of transcending current circumstances.

Guest introduces an image of floating around a net, with "Pink and pale blue fish" caught in it. The fish are described as beautiful but not good for eating, suggesting that appearances can be deceiving and that not everything that looks appealing is beneficial. This net could symbolize the entrapments and limitations in life, capturing beauty that is ultimately unusable.

The poem continues to juxtapose the imagery of swimming and floating with the idea of being suspended in mid-air: "Parachutes, my love, could carry us higher / Than this mid-air in which we tremble." This suspension in mid-air, described as "exquisite," evokes a sense of being caught between states, neither fully secure nor entirely free. The speaker admits, "I do not know," reinforcing the theme of uncertainty and the complexity of their situation.

Beneath the surface, there is "coral below the surface, / There is sand, and berries / Like pomegranates grow." These images of underwater life and fruit evoke a hidden richness and fertility beneath the apparent calm of the ocean's surface. The coral and sand represent the unseen foundations, while the berries like pomegranates, often associated with life and death, suggest a deeper, perhaps more troubling, reality.

The speaker treads water near the wide net, with "bubbles rising and salt / Drying on my lashes." This vivid imagery captures the effort and discomfort of staying afloat, suggesting a struggle to maintain balance. The speaker's statement, "yet I am no nearer / Air than water," highlights the paradox of their situation—caught between air and water, neither fully in one realm nor the other.

The lines "I am closer to you / Than land and I am in a stranger ocean / Than I wished" reveal the central relationship in the poem. Despite the uncertainty and strangeness of their environment, the speaker finds solace in their closeness to the other person. This relationship provides a grounding force amidst the unfamiliar and potentially perilous surroundings.

Guest's poem captures the tension between comfort and uncertainty, exploring how relationships can offer both refuge and complication. The imagery of floating, swimming, and suspension creates a sense of fluidity and instability, mirroring the speaker's emotional state. The repeated refrain about parachutes suggests a longing for elevation and escape, yet the reality remains one of treading water and navigating the unknown.

"Parachutes, My Love, Could Carry Us Higher" ultimately reflects on the complexities of human connection and the delicate balance between seeking safety and embracing the risks inherent in life and relationships. Through rich imagery and a contemplative tone, Barbara Guest invites readers to consider the multifaceted nature of love, vulnerability, and the ongoing quest for understanding and stability in an ever-changing world.

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