Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dorianne Laux’s “Books” captures a pivotal moment in the speaker’s life, a transition from the structured environment of high school into the open and uncertain future. This moment is suffused with nostalgia, rebellion, and the enduring power of literature, which the speaker discovers as a source of identity and connection. Laux crafts a vivid and intimate portrayal of how books transcend their physical form to become transformative objects of emotional and intellectual growth.

The poem opens with a snapshot of the speaker standing on the high school steps, a liminal space where past and future collide. The double doors swinging closed behind them signify the end of a significant chapter. Laux effectively uses this setting to evoke the bittersweet nature of endings—not only the end of high school but also the complex web of experiences associated with it. The mundane rituals of school life—the lockers, gym bags, and dress codes—are mentioned with a tone of dismissal, suggesting the speaker’s readiness to leave this period behind. However, the use of detail (“out-of-style jacket,” “too-tight shoes”) subtly conveys the discomfort and self-consciousness that often define adolescence.

As the speaker reflects on what they will leave behind, the focus shifts to books, elevating them as the most enduring and cherished aspect of their high school experience. The speaker acknowledges that while much of high school will fade—“gum, gossip,” and “the science of water”—the books will remain etched in memory. The physicality of the books is lovingly detailed: their weight, fragrance, and worn edges evoke a tactile and sensual connection. Laux imbues these objects with life, describing how they bear the marks of collective use, “thinned at the edges by hundreds of licked thumbs.” The books become a shared yet deeply personal artifact, symbolic of the speaker’s inner world and their connection to the broader human experience.

The speaker’s discovery of literature’s power is encapsulated in a moment of revelation: stumbling across a passage so perfect that it “drums in your head” and overwhelms all external noise, from the teacher’s voice to the lunch bell. This discovery underscores literature’s ability to transcend the mundane and resonate on a deeply personal level. It is here that the speaker’s love for books crystallizes into something transformative. This moment also serves as a bridge to the speaker’s act of rebellion—the theft of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

The stolen book represents more than just a rebellious act; it becomes a symbol of autonomy and identity. The speaker’s decision to take the book, “in full knowledge of right and wrong,” signals a deliberate choice to claim ownership over their intellectual and emotional journey. By calling themselves a thief, the speaker confronts the moral weight of their action but simultaneously downplays it, reflecting a sense of defiance and justification. The tactile relationship with the stolen book—digging into the bag to “touch its heat” and tracing the embossed letters “like someone blind”—emphasizes its significance as an intimate and almost sacred object.

Laux concludes the poem with a forward-looking image of the speaker stepping into the world, carrying the stolen book as a talisman of sorts. The book becomes a portal to other lives, allowing the speaker to join “characters whose lives might unfold at your touch.” This act of entering the literary world mirrors the speaker’s entrance into adulthood, suggesting that literature will guide and shape their identity. The closing lines, “Into the blur of the world. Into whoever you’re going to be,” encapsulate the uncertainty and promise of the future, with books offering a steady source of insight and companionship.

The structure of the poem mirrors the flow of memory, moving seamlessly between reflection and narrative. Laux’s use of second-person perspective invites readers to step into the speaker’s shoes, making the experience universal while preserving its intimate tone. The language is simple yet evocative, grounded in sensory details that bring the speaker’s memories to life.

Ultimately, “Books” is a meditation on the formative power of literature and its enduring impact. Laux captures the vulnerability and possibility of adolescence, the moment when a love of books transitions from a school requirement to a deeply personal and transformative passion. The poem affirms that while people, places, and circumstances change, the solace and inspiration found in books remain constant, guiding us “into whoever we’re going to be.”

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