Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Merrill's "Kite Poem" is a whimsical yet thought-provoking meditation on the tension between societal norms and the desires of youth, encapsulated in a narrative that blends humor, irony, and the surreal. The poem juxtaposes the cautionary tale of a father with the irrepressible spirit of his daughters, ultimately suggesting that the human desire for freedom and connection often defies attempts at control.

The poem begins with the parson, a figure of authority and tradition, recounting a story "to emulate / The sport of birds"—a metaphor for the desire to transcend earthly limitations, to soar freely like a kite in the sky. However, the story quickly takes a dark turn as the man who attempts this feat disappears, leaving only his coat behind, found "two counties away." This image of the coat, detached from its wearer and carried far from its origin, symbolizes the futility of trying to escape the constraints of reality. The man's fate remains a mystery, his absence a reminder of the dangers inherent in such endeavors.

The parson's story is revealed to be a lesson aimed at the man's daughters, who had been "caught kissing, or some such nonsense." This dismissive phrase underscores the triviality of their transgression in the grand scheme of things, yet it is this very act of youthful rebellion that prompts the father's lengthy sermon. The father's intention is clear: to instill fear and caution in his daughters, to dissuade them from further acts of passion and impulse.

However, the story itself is "improbable from the start," and the father's attempts to curb his daughters' behavior are ultimately ineffective. The wind, a natural force beyond human control, "Blew out the candles and the moon wrought changes," introducing an element of unpredictability and magic into the narrative. The daughters, rather than being swayed by their father's warnings, are instead "persuaded" by the changes they feel "along their stockings"—a subtle but powerful image of their awakening desires and the pull of their own emotions.

In the final lines, the daughters "fled to their young men / Waiting in the sweet night by the raspberry bed," returning to the scene of their earlier transgression. The repetition of "kissed and kissed" emphasizes their defiance and their determination to embrace their desires, despite the warnings they have received. The phrase "as though to escape on a kite" ties the poem back to its central metaphor, suggesting that the daughters, like the man in the story, seek to transcend their circumstances and experience the freedom of flight—whether literal or metaphorical.

"Kite Poem" captures the eternal conflict between the constraints of societal expectations and the liberating force of individual desire. Merrill uses the whimsical and surreal elements of the story—the kite, the wind, the moon—to explore the idea that attempts to control or repress natural impulses are often futile. The poem's humor and lightness of tone do not detract from its underlying message: that the human spirit, particularly in youth, is drawn to freedom and connection, even in the face of warnings and potential dangers.

In this way, Merrill celebrates the resilience and vitality of those who dare to defy convention, even as he acknowledges the risks involved. The daughters' final act of rebellion, kissing under the moonlight as though to escape on a kite, serves as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of joy and love is an essential part of the human experience, one that cannot be easily contained or suppressed.

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