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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Was A Man" by John Ciardi is a lively and affectionate tribute to the poet Theodore Roethke, capturing the essence of Roethke's larger-than-life personality and the cultural milieu of Saginaw, Michigan. Through playful language, rhymes, and vivid imagery, Ciardi paints a portrait of Roethke as a man of intense passions and robust physicality, intertwined with reflections on the community and environment that shaped him. The poem opens with a dynamic description of Roethke as "a tearing man, / a slam-bang wham-damn tantrum O," immediately establishing his forceful presence and indomitable spirit. This characterization aligns with Roethke's reputation for his energetic and often tumultuous personality, both in his personal life and in the powerful, emotive quality of his poetry. Ciardi's depiction of Saginaw as a place where "the ladies sneeze at ten below" but the men pride themselves on their ruggedness ("the hair on their chests it hangs down / to their knees") humorously conveys the harshness of the Michigan climate and the toughness it engenders in its inhabitants. This backdrop serves as a fitting setting for Roethke's outsized character and the hardy disposition required to thrive there. The poem also touches on Roethke's penchant for drinking, describing him as "a drinking man, / a brandy and a bubbly O." Ciardi uses the image of Roethke's "roll of fat that ran / six times around his belly O" to evoke a sense of abundance and excess, further emphasizing the poet's embrace of life's pleasures and his disdain for moderation. The latter part of the poem shifts to a more general reflection on the community of Saginaw, with references to the "Morleys and the Burrows" as the local "aristocracy" and the humorous assertion that the only thing learned in "Shunday Shule" was "the Golden Rhule." These lines, with their playful misspellings and tongue-in-cheek observations, offer a satirical glimpse into the social dynamics and values of the town, suggesting a place where conventional measures of respectability are turned on their head. Ciardi concludes with a nod to the contradictions inherent in community life, noting that "the largest contributions came / From the town's biggest crooks." This observation reflects a cynical yet affectionate view of the complexities and imperfections of small-town America, where appearances and reality often diverge. Overall, "Was A Man" is both a tribute to Theodore Roethke and a celebration of the unique character of Saginaw, Michigan. Through Ciardi's engaging and humorous verse, readers are invited to appreciate the vibrancy and vitality of Roethke's personality and the rich tapestry of life in a place that both challenges and nurtures its inhabitants.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POET'S HOUSEHOLD by CAROLYN KIZER THE ROSEBUSH; A MEMORY OF THEODORE ROETHKE by DAVID WAGONER POET ON THE ISLAND; TO THEODORE ROETHKE by RICHARD MURPHY LINES FOR ROETHKE TWENTY YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH by DUANE NIATUM ROETHKE AT HARVARD by KATHLEEN SPIVACK ROSEBUSH; A MEMORY OF THEODORE ROETHKE by DAVID WAGONER ON THE DEATH OF THEODORE ROETHKE by WILLIAM WITHERUP WHAT JOHNNY TOLD ME by JOHN CIARDI |
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