Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Promise," Sharon Olds crafts a deeply intimate and complex dialogue between two lovers, exploring themes of love, mortality, and the unbreakable bond that extends beyond life's boundaries. The poem delves into the profound commitment between the speaker and their partner, encapsulated in a dark, yet tender promise to assist each other in death if the need arises. The setting of the poem—a restaurant where the couple shares drinks—serves as a backdrop to this solemn vow, contrasting the mundane with the extraordinary depth of their pact.

The poem opens with a scene of casual intimacy: the couple holding hands on a bare table as they indulge in their respective drinks. The second drink, often associated with lowered inhibitions and deeper conversations, sets the stage for the renewal of their promise to kill each other if necessary. The choice of drinks—the partner's gin with its "night-blue juniper berry" and the speaker's Fumé, likened to "fragrant dirt and smoke"—evokes a sense of the earthy, elemental nature of their bond. The imagery suggests that they are already partially "part soil," hinting at their acceptance of mortality and the natural cycle of life and death.

The poem intertwines this discussion of mortality with memories of intimate moments shared in bed, creating a poignant juxtaposition of life’s vitality and the inevitability of death. The description of being "fitted, naked, closely / along each other, half passed out, / after love" captures a moment of vulnerability and connection. The physical closeness and the drifting in and out of consciousness symbolize a deeper metaphysical closeness, suggesting that their bond transcends the physical realm.

The partner's concern about the possibility of "chickening out" highlights the seriousness of their promise. The fear of enduring a prolonged, undignified existence, whether through debilitating illness or incapacitation, is palpable. The partner's specific fears—being "tied to a chair like your prim grandmother, / cursing" or being unable to "think or die" after a stroke—underscore a deep desire for agency and control over one's fate.

The room's dim atmosphere, described with "ivory globes, pink curtains bound at the waist," creates a soft, intimate setting that contrasts with the gravity of their conversation. The description of the outside as a "weightless, luminous, lifted-up / summer twilight" adds a sense of fleeting beauty and tranquility, underscoring the preciousness of life.

In the poem's climax, the speaker reassures their partner of their unwavering commitment. The speaker's declaration, "I tell you you do not / know me if you think I will not / kill you," is both a reaffirmation of their promise and a testament to the depth of their love. The speaker recalls the shared experience in "the bright, blood- / flecked delivery room," a potent image that symbolizes life’s raw, visceral nature and their shared experiences of profound moments.

The closing lines encapsulate the speaker's fierce devotion: "if a lion / had you in its jaws I would attack it, if the ropes / binding your soul are your own wrists, I will cut them." These metaphors highlight the lengths the speaker would go to protect their partner, even against the most fearsome threats or the partner's own internal struggles. The reference to "the ropes / binding your soul" suggests an understanding of the partner's inner turmoil and a willingness to intervene compassionately.

"The Promise" is a meditation on love's depth and the complexities of a shared life that includes the prospect of a shared death. Sharon Olds deftly balances the delicate and the macabre, exploring the idea that true love encompasses not just life but also a shared responsibility in death. The poem’s language and imagery convey a profound sense of commitment and the existential weight of the promise they share, making it a powerful reflection on the nature of love, mortality, and the lengths one will go to honor a partner's wishes.

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