Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Matthews' poem "Twins" intricately captures the confusion and intensity of a young boy's first experiences with love and desire. Through vivid imagery and nuanced reflection, Matthews explores the complexities of attraction, identity, and the multiplicity of emotions that come with such early infatuations.

The poem begins with an epigraph from Marianne Moore, which sets a reflective and slightly whimsical tone: "One may be a blameless bachelor, and it is but a step to Congreve." This reference to the playwright William Congreve, known for his comedies of manners, hints at the intricate dance of social and romantic entanglements that will unfold in the poem.

Matthews quickly establishes the age difference between himself and the twins: "When I was eleven and they / were twenty-two, I fell in love / with twins." This significant age gap highlights the innocence and idealization typical of young love. The phrase "five run-on / syllables, Connie-and-Bonnie" emphasizes how the twins are perceived as a singular entity, almost inseparable in the boy's mind, much like how a child's view can be all-encompassing and undifferentiated.

The twins are described in contrasting terms: "Bonnie / was blonde, lithe, walleyed, / angular, and fey. And Connie / was brunette, shiny-eyed, and / shy." These vivid physical descriptions not only distinguish the twins from each other but also showcase the boy's keen observation and fascination. Bonnie's "fey" and "walleyed" nature suggests a whimsical and slightly otherworldly quality, while Connie's shyness and flirtation highlight a more grounded and traditional attractiveness.

The poem delves into the boy's internal conflict: "And shouldn't love be an exclusive / passion? To fall in love with twins / made me unfaithful in advance?" This rhetorical question underscores the confusion and guilt associated with his simultaneous attraction to both twins. The concept of exclusive love clashes with his feelings, creating a sense of paralysis and emotional turmoil.

Matthews captures this paralysis with the line, "my love doubled forever / into mathematical heaven—paralysis." The idea of love being "doubled" into a "mathematical heaven" evokes a sense of unreachable perfection and eternal conflict, reinforcing the boy's sense of being overwhelmed and immobilized by his feelings.

The poem then shifts to a broader reflection on names and identity: "Frocks rhyme and names confuse / and the world is thicker with sad / futures than lost pasts." This line suggests a world filled with potential disappointments and misunderstandings, where identities blur and futures seem daunting. The boy's collection of names, "hoarded like marbles," symbolizes his attempt to grasp and make sense of the people and emotions around him.

The line "I knew the two meanings of cleave" encapsulates the duality of his experience. To cleave can mean to cling to or to split apart, reflecting his simultaneous desire to hold on to and separate his feelings for the twins. This understanding of duality and contradiction speaks to a deeper, perhaps unconscious, grasp of the complexities of love and attachment.

The poem concludes with a poignant image of the boy returning home: "I looked into those eyes I loved, / two brown, two blue, and shut my own / (grey) from any light but mine." This act of closing his eyes suggests a retreat into himself, a need to find solace and clarity within. The final lines, "and walked straight home and kissed / my parents equally and climbed my growing / body's staircase to the very tip of sleep," depict a return to the safety and familiarity of home and the innocence of childhood. The act of kissing his parents equally signifies a balance and a desire for impartiality, perhaps reflecting his unresolved feelings about the twins.

In "Twins," William Matthews masterfully explores the innocence and complexity of first love through the lens of a young boy's experience. The poem's rich imagery and introspective narrative invite readers to reflect on their own early encounters with love and the often confusing interplay of desire, identity, and emotion. Through its nuanced portrayal of youthful infatuation, "Twins" captures the universal struggle to navigate the bewildering landscape of the heart.

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