Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Fanny Howe’s "Slide" is a brief but enigmatic poem that plays with geography, movement, and emotional undertones of detachment and irony. The imagery is sparse yet surreal, evoking a space that is both physical and metaphorical.

The poem opens with a paradox: "There is no bridge into Antarctica but a highway with a space under it, never open to cars." Antarctica, a place often associated with isolation and inaccessibility, is said to have a highway rather than a bridge. The highway’s existence is undermined by its inutility—it has "a space under it" and is "never open to cars." This creates an image of infrastructure without function, a road that leads nowhere, reinforcing the theme of futility or absurdity. Antarctica, as a symbol of extremity and remoteness, becomes a stand-in for an unreachable destination, perhaps an emotional or existential state.

The next lines introduce motion: "Every time / we slipped up and over this mound," suggesting repetition, as though the speaker and others are caught in a cycle of movement without clear progress. The word "slipped" conveys a lack of control, as if they are being carried along involuntarily rather than making a deliberate journey.

Upon reaching this ambiguous threshold, they are met by a "high school band which praised us in music and dance." This moment injects an absurd theatricality into the poem. A high school band, usually associated with youthful enthusiasm and celebration, is performing at this barren, undefined place. The contrast between the grandeur of praise and the seemingly meaningless journey creates a tension—why are they being celebrated, and does the praise carry any real weight?

The final line, "We felt, after all this hoop-la, condescended to," undercuts the preceding festivity. The word "hoop-la" suggests exaggerated, empty excitement. The sense of being "condescended to" implies that the praise was misplaced or insincere, that the band’s celebration did not match the reality of the situation. It suggests that the speaker and their companions may have expected something more meaningful from their arrival, only to be met with shallow spectacle.

At its core, "Slide" explores the idea of movement toward an uncertain or illusory destination, met with a performative rather than genuine response. It can be read as an existential reflection on human endeavors—our paths may feel aimless, the rewards hollow, and the recognition unearned or patronizing. The poem’s brevity and ambiguity leave the reader with a lingering sense of detachment, as if any attempt to reach something profound or distant is met with artifice rather than truth.

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