Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's "Theory of Flight: The Tunnel" is an intricate and vivid portrayal of human struggle, resilience, and the desire for transcendence amid the harsh realities of labor, love, and loss. The poem is divided into three parts, each offering a unique perspective on the broader themes of work, personal connection, and existential flight.

In the first section, Rukeyser presents a bleak picture of a mining community. "NO WORK is master of the mine today" immediately sets a tone of desolation and disempowerment. The miners, tied to their labor and the oppressive presence of coal, are depicted with somber imagery: "The father’s hand is rubbed with dust, his body / is witness to coal, black glosses all his skin." This physical and symbolic staining underscores the miners' deep connection to their work, a connection that is both life-sustaining and life-draining.

The description of the "black mountain / of unbought coal" with "grass growing rank in the shag" juxtaposes the natural world with the artificial, highlighting the futility and stagnation of an industry that both sustains and traps its workers. The dialogue between the miners reflects their resignation and the cyclical nature of their hardships: "Babies came quickly after summertimes. / You could work, and quit, and get a better job. / God knows if it’ll ever be the same." This longing for a better past and the grim acceptance of their present reality capture the miners' perpetual struggle.

In the second section, Rukeyser shifts to a more personal and introspective tone, exploring themes of love and separation. The imagery of the city at night and the metaphorical descent into the subway create a sense of isolation and alienation: "Day shines a last gloom quickening the street, and deep / grave-deep the subway files down space to a moment / over me a plane exterminates distance." The speaker's longing for their beloved, described with maritime imagery—"you have been a prow / carving a tragic sea to meet my love"—underscores the vast emotional distance between them.

The speaker's reflections on their relationship are tinged with sorrow and a sense of irrevocable loss: "Open me a refuge where I may be renewed. Speak to me / world hissing over cables, shining among steel strands." The plea for renewal and connection contrasts with the mechanized, impersonal world they inhabit, highlighting the tension between human intimacy and the isolating forces of modernity.

The final section introduces the motif of flight, both literal and metaphorical. The description of the pilot and his pregnant wife brings a tender yet poignant dynamic to the poem: "She moves to the window, tall and dark before a brightening sky, / full with her six-months’ pregnancy molded in ripeness." This image of potential and hope is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of the pilot's job and the inherent dangers of flight: "Light gales from the northwest: tomorrow, rain."

The dialogue between the pilot and his wife reveals their different worlds—his filled with the technicalities and dangers of aviation, hers grounded in the anticipation of their child's birth. The pilot's reflections on flight and heroism—"Your friends sleep with strange women desperately, / drink liquor and sleep heavily to forget those skies"—highlight the disconnect between his experiences and the romanticized view of aviation.

The poem's closing lines weave together the themes of labor, love, and existential struggle: "We have prayed torrents of humility, open / in anguish to be hurt, in terror to be fooled." The reference to Icarus and the imagery of the plane's descent evoke the mythic and tragic dimensions of human ambition and failure. The prayer for condensed time and extended space reflects a desire to reconcile the temporal and spatial divides that characterize human existence.

"Theory of Flight: The Tunnel" is a powerful exploration of the human condition, capturing the interplay between aspiration and limitation, connection and isolation. Through her masterful use of imagery and metaphor, Rukeyser delves into the depths of personal and collective experience, offering a profound meditation on the forces that shape our lives.

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