Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Ted Kooser’s poem "Box of Pastels" masterfully captures a moment of profound connection between the speaker and the renowned painter Mary Cassatt through the tangible, physical remnants of her artistic tools. The poem delves into themes of art, legacy, and the emotional resonance of objects that carry the touch of their former owners.

The poem begins with a striking image: "I once held on my knees a simple wooden box / in which a rainbow lay dusty and broken." This opening line immediately draws the reader into an intimate scene, suggesting both the fragility and the vibrancy of the pastels within the box. The juxtaposition of "rainbow" with "dusty and broken" evokes a sense of beauty that has endured despite the passage of time and the wear and tear of use.

Kooser reveals the significance of the pastels: "It was a set of pastels that had years before / belonged to the painter Mary Cassatt." This revelation transforms the ordinary wooden box into a treasure trove of historical and artistic significance. The colors within are not just pigments but are imbued with the legacy of Cassatt’s creative genius.

The poem then moves to a detailed observation of the pastels: "Those hues she’d most used, / the peaches and pinks, were worn down to stubs, / while the cool colors – violet, ultramarine – / had been set, scarcely touched, to one side." This description offers a glimpse into Cassatt’s artistic preferences and techniques, highlighting her fondness for warm, vibrant colors. The worn-down stubs of peaches and pinks indicate frequent use, reflecting Cassatt’s focus on light, warmth, and the human form. In contrast, the untouched cool colors suggest a lesser interest in or need for darkness and shadow in her work.

Kooser deepens this insight with the lines: "She’d had little patience with darkness, and her heart / held only a measure of shadow." These lines offer a poignant reflection on Cassatt’s emotional and artistic outlook. Her preference for light and color over shadow speaks to a disposition inclined towards optimism and warmth. The phrase "her heart held only a measure of shadow" suggests a personality that, while acknowledging darkness, chose to focus on the brighter aspects of life.

The poem concludes with a powerful, tactile image: "I touched / the warm dust of those colors, her tools, / and left there with light on the tips of my fingers." This final act of touching the pastels symbolizes a direct, almost magical connection with Cassatt’s creative spirit. The "warm dust" implies the residue of her artistic endeavors, and the "light on the tips of my fingers" signifies the transfer of inspiration and beauty from the pastels to the speaker.

In "Box of Pastels," Ted Kooser eloquently captures the enduring impact of an artist’s tools and the profound connection they can forge across time. Through vivid imagery and careful observation, Kooser invites readers to reflect on the power of art to transcend its material origins and leave a lasting impression on those who encounter it. The poem is a testament to the intimate bond between creator and creation, and the way in which this bond can be felt by others, even long after the artist is gone.

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