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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"The Wedding Couple" by Donald Hall is a deeply moving poem that reflects on enduring love, the passage of time, and the dignity maintained in the face of physical decline. Through vivid imagery and poignant moments, Hall captures the essence of a lifelong relationship that endures through sickness and health. The poem opens with a brief reflection on the husband's health: "Fifteen years ago his heart / infarcted and he stopped smoking. / At eighty he trembled / like a birch but remained vigorous / and acute." These lines introduce the husband's physical fragility, comparing his trembling to a birch tree, yet also highlight his mental sharpness and vitality despite his age and health challenges. Hall then takes the reader back to the couple's wedding day: "When they married, / fifty years ago, I was twelve. / I observed the white lace / veil, the mumbling preacher, and the flowers / of parlor silence / and ordinary absurdity; but / I thought I stood outside / the parlor." The speaker recalls the wedding with a child's perspective, noting the traditional symbols of a wedding—lace veil, preacher, flowers—but also a sense of detachment, feeling like an outsider to the solemn yet somewhat absurd ceremony. The poem then shifts to the present, depicting the wife's decline: "For two years she dwindled / by small strokes / into a mannequin--speechless almost, almost / unmoving, eyes open / and blinking, fitful in perception-- / but a mannequin that suffered / shame when it stained the bed sheet." Hall describes the devastating impact of illness on the wife, reducing her to a nearly motionless, speechless state, yet still capable of feeling shame and discomfort, illustrating her enduring humanity. The husband's devotion is captured in tender detail: "Slowly, shaking with purpose, / he carried her to the bathroom, / undressed and washed her, / dressed her in clean clothes, and carried her back / to CNN and bed." Despite his own frailty, the husband meticulously cares for his wife, performing intimate and laborious tasks with great care. This act of love and duty speaks volumes about the depth of their relationship. The poem concludes with a reference to a famous Beatles song: "'All / you need is love,' sang John and Paul: / He touched her shoulder; her eyes / caressed him like a bride's bold eyes." The song's message of love being the essential ingredient in life is embodied in the husband's gentle touch and the wife's responsive gaze. Even in her diminished state, her eyes convey a boldness and affection reminiscent of their wedding day, underscoring the enduring nature of their bond. "The Wedding Couple" by Donald Hall is a poignant exploration of love's resilience in the face of aging and illness. Through its intimate portrayal of the couple's life together, the poem highlights the profound beauty found in small acts of care and the deep connections that sustain us through the hardest times.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN OLD-FASHIONED SONG by JOHN HOLLANDER AT EIGHTY I CHANGE MY VIEW by DAVID IGNATOW FAWN'S FOSTER-MOTHER by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE DEER LAY DOWN THEIR BONES by ROBINSON JEFFERS OLD BLACK MEN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON A WINTER ODE TO THE OLD MEN OF LUMMUS PARK, / MIAMI, FLORIDA by DONALD JUSTICE AFTER A LINE BY JOHN PEALE BISHOP by DONALD JUSTICE TO HER BODY, AGAINST TIME by ROBERT KELLY |
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