Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Rita Dove’s poem "Cozy Apologia; for Fred" is an intimate and reflective piece that captures the tender and somewhat whimsical musings of a speaker deeply in love. Set against the backdrop of an approaching hurricane, the poem intertwines the personal with the cosmic, blending everyday objects and events with romantic and heroic fantasies.

The poem opens with the speaker musing that anything around her could remind her of her beloved—"This lamp, the wind-still rain, the glossy blue / My pen exudes." This introduction sets a tone of deep affection and connectivity, where ordinary objects take on significant meaning because of their association with the loved one. The imagery of the pen's ink, "drying matte, upon the page," subtly hints at the act of writing as a form of capturing and preserving affection.

Dove employs a playful tone as she conjures a knightly image of the beloved, "Astride a dappled mare, legs braced as far apart / As standing in silver stirrups will allow." This fantastical vision, complete with "chain mail glinting," positions the loved one as a chivalric hero, a common romantic fantasy that adds a layer of charm and escapism to the narrative. The mix of a smiling and a firm eye on the enemy illustrates a blend of gentleness and strength, attributes admired by the speaker.

The poem then shifts to a commentary on the modern age, which the speaker describes as "all business: compact disks / And faxes, a do-it-now-and-take-no-risks / Event." This reflection on the efficiency and risk-averse nature of contemporary life contrasts with the unpredictable force of the approaching hurricane named Floyd, a symbol of untamed nature and perhaps a metaphor for the uncontrollable elements of life and love.

Dove humorously recalls "awkward reminiscences / Of teenage crushes on worthless boys," using names like Marcel, Percy, and Dewey to evoke a sense of their gentle, almost effeminate qualities. This nostalgic reflection is both light-hearted and poignant, emphasizing the depth of her current relationship in contrast to fleeting youthful attractions.

The poem concludes in the present, where both the speaker and her beloved are settled in their respective workspaces, "bunkered" in safety from the storm. Despite their contentment, there is a shared sense of longing for something beyond mere satisfaction, a desire for the divine. Yet, it is this very ordinary happiness that the speaker finds most comforting and necessary to ward off "melancholy." She cherishes this "stolen time" with her beloved as a means to transcend the mundanity and the chaos of the external world.

"Cozy Apologia; for Fred" is thus a celebration of love in its most comforting and domestic form, a love that provides refuge and joy amid life's storms. Dove’s lyricism, infused with both humor and depth, captures the beauty of finding contentment in shared simplicity, making the poem a warm, reflective meditation on the power of love to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

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