Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dorianne Laux’s “As It Is” explores the tension between modernity and a longing for simplicity, weaving a meditation on love and connection that transcends time and technological barriers. Through vivid imagery and the speaker?s tender perspective, the poem examines how relationships endure and adapt in the face of the complexities of the contemporary world.

The poem begins with a depiction of the man the speaker loves, characterized by his disdain for modern technology. His aversion is almost romanticized—he “hates / that he’s forced to use it,” listing off telephones, microfilm, and other innovations with quiet exasperation. His dissatisfaction with the contemporary world becomes a yearning for an imagined past, where life was defined by tangible, hands-on tasks like carving a clothespin or hoeing “uneven rows.” This nostalgia for simplicity reflects not just a preference for a bygone era but a deeper rejection of the alienation often associated with modern life.

This longing for the past establishes the man as an archetype of someone out of sync with his time. The speaker, however, embraces his disconnection, expressing her love for him in ways that transcend eras. She imagines loving him “in any era, in any dark age,” grounding her affection not in the conveniences or challenges of their time but in the elemental connection they share. Her devotion is timeless, her declaration asserting that their bond could flourish in any circumstance. This universality of love is a central theme, emphasizing its power to endure despite—or perhaps because of—the context in which it exists.

The imagery in the poem bridges the natural and the mechanical, highlighting the man’s preference for the organic world. He walks “through the hills / behind his house,” accompanied by his dogs, described as “panting beside him / like small steam engines.” Here, the comparison to steam engines subtly connects his love of nature with the inevitability of human innovation. His appreciation for the “sun’s slow and simple / descent” and “the complicated machinery / of his own body” reveals a mindfulness and awe for life’s inherent beauty, unmediated by modern inventions.

The speaker’s affection for this man is palpable, and her desire to connect with him is portrayed in intimate, tactile terms. She imagines unwinding him “in the twilight,” her hands threading through his hair, grounding their relationship in physical and emotional closeness. This scene contrasts sharply with the distance implied by the technology she interacts with later in the poem. Sitting alone in her kitchen, the speaker repeatedly presses the button on the answering machine, clinging to the sound of his voice. The answering machine becomes both a bridge and a barrier—a device that connects her to him but also highlights their physical separation.

The imagery of wires outside the window, where birds “balance themselves / and stare off into the trees,” extends the theme of connection across distances. The birds, like the speaker, seem to pause and reflect, their stillness mirroring her longing. The speaker’s contemplation of his voice “strung along the wires” transforms the mundane act of listening into something profound and cosmic. She imagines his voice refracted “like light / from some small, uncharted star,” situating their connection within a vast, timeless framework. The comparison to light from a distant star underscores the enduring and intangible quality of her love—a beacon that would guide her even “in the farthest future, in the most / distant universe.”

The poem’s structure is conversational and intimate, reflecting the speaker’s deep introspection and her meditative tone. The enjambment propels the poem forward while allowing pauses for reflection, mimicking the act of listening to a repeated message and savoring its nuances. The language is simple yet evocative, imbuing everyday objects and actions with emotional resonance.

Ultimately, “As It Is” is a love poem that transcends time and space, celebrating the enduring nature of human connection even in an era dominated by technology. Laux’s speaker finds beauty in both the imperfections of modern life and the timelessness of love. The juxtaposition of the man’s longing for simplicity with the speaker’s embrace of their current reality creates a poignant tension, highlighting how love adapts to and thrives within the constraints of any age. This tender exploration of devotion reminds readers of the power of love to anchor and sustain us, even as the world around us shifts and evolves.

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