|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Stanley Jasspon Kunitz's poem "Three Floors" masterfully employs concise imagery and a poignant narrative to explore themes of loss, transition, and the haunting presence of memory within a familial setting. The poem’s structure, language, and the subtle interplay of light and darkness contribute to a melancholic reflection on childhood and the unsettling experiences that come with it. The opening lines, "Mother was a crack of light / And a gray eye peeping," immediately set a tone of surveillance and distance. The mother, reduced to a mere "crack of light" and an "eye," evokes an image of partial presence, suggesting both care and detachment. This fragmented portrayal hints at a relationship marked by a lack of full emotional connection or understanding, as if the mother’s presence is more about oversight than intimacy. The speaker’s response to this surveillance, "I made believe by breathing hard / That I was sleeping," underscores a child's attempt to evade scrutiny. The act of pretending to sleep by exaggerating breathing is a universal childhood tactic, reflecting innocence and the desire to create a personal space free from adult intrusion. This moment captures the tension between the child's need for autonomy and the omnipresent parental gaze. "Sister's doughboy on last leave / Had robbed me of her hand" introduces a new character and a sense of betrayal or loss. The "doughboy," a World War I soldier, symbolizes a significant historical context, suggesting that the poem might be set during or shortly after the war. His presence has altered the family dynamic, particularly the relationship between the speaker and the sister. The phrase "robbed me of her hand" poignantly captures the speaker's feeling of abandonment and the shifting allegiances within the family unit. The sister’s attempt to maintain normalcy, "Downstairs at intervals she played / Warum on the baby grand," adds another layer of melancholy. The choice of "Warum," which means "Why" in German and is a well-known piece by Robert Schumann, resonates with the theme of questioning and searching for understanding. The sporadic playing of this mournful tune on the piano downstairs creates an auditory backdrop that amplifies the poem's introspective and somber mood. The scene shifts to the attic with "Under the roof a wardrobe trunk / Whose lock a boy could pick / Contained a red Masonic hat / And a walking stick." This imagery evokes curiosity and the allure of forbidden knowledge. The attic, often a place of forgotten or hidden things, symbolizes the mysteries and secrets of the past. The red Masonic hat and walking stick suggest connections to the father or another male figure, hinting at an exploration of identity and legacy that the speaker is beginning to grapple with. The climax of the poem occurs with the lines "Bolt upright in my bed that night / I saw my father flying." This sudden, almost surreal vision of the father "flying" signifies a profound and disorienting experience. Whether literal or metaphorical, this image suggests a moment of revelation or a dramatic shift in perception. The father's flight can be interpreted as a departure, an escape, or a transcendence, leaving the speaker in a state of heightened awareness and vulnerability. The concluding lines, "The wind was walking on my neck, / The window-panes were crying," encapsulate the poem’s eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The personification of the wind and window-panes adds a supernatural or dreamlike quality to the scene. The wind "walking" on the neck implies an invasive, almost physical presence, while the "crying" window-panes reflect the speaker's internal turmoil and the pervasive sense of sorrow. In summary, Stanley Jasspon Kunitz's "Three Floors" is a poignant and evocative exploration of childhood, family dynamics, and the haunting nature of memory. Through its vivid imagery and carefully constructed narrative, the poem delves into themes of surveillance, loss, and the search for meaning amidst changing familial relationships. The interplay of light and darkness, presence and absence, creates a rich tapestry that invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of growing up and the enduring impact of the past.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
| |