Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "Years" is a brief yet powerful exploration of the complex and often tumultuous nature of a long-term relationship. Through vivid and visceral imagery, the poem captures the intense emotions that can accompany years spent with another person—emotions that range from anger and resentment to exhaustion and, ultimately, a kind of hard-won intimacy and connection.

The poem begins with a stark admission: "I have wished you dead and myself dead, / How could it be otherwise." This opening line immediately establishes the intensity of the speaker's feelings, suggesting that the relationship has been marked by deep conflict and frustration. The speaker acknowledges that such feelings are almost inevitable over the course of a long relationship, where moments of extreme emotion can arise. The phrase "How could it be otherwise" suggests a resigned acceptance of these darker impulses as part of the human experience.

The speaker then describes their interactions with the other person in the relationship using metaphors that convey both aggression and vulnerability. "I have broken into you like a burglar / And you've set your dogs on me" portrays the speaker as someone who has intruded upon the other's defenses, perhaps in search of intimacy or understanding, only to be met with hostility and self-protection. The imagery of a burglar and dogs evokes a sense of danger and mistrust, highlighting the difficulties in navigating closeness without crossing boundaries.

The poem continues with the speaker comparing the other person to both a "hurricane" and a "pile of broken sticks." These contrasting images capture the duality of the relationship: at times, it has been a force of nature, overwhelming and destructive like a hurricane, while at other times, it has seemed fragile and insignificant, like a "pile of broken sticks / A child could kick." This contrast underscores the emotional extremes that the speaker has experienced—moments of intense passion and conflict, as well as moments of disillusionment and disconnection.

The next lines shift to a more introspective tone as the speaker reflects on their efforts to understand and perhaps overcome the challenges of the relationship: "I have climbed you like a monument, gasping, / For the exercise and the view." Here, the other person is likened to a monument—something grand, imposing, and difficult to conquer. The speaker's climb is both a physical and metaphorical struggle, undertaken for the "exercise" (the effort and growth that comes with the challenge) and the "view" (the perspective and insight gained from the relationship). The act of climbing suggests that the relationship has been a journey, requiring perseverance and determination.

The poem concludes with a moment of calm and reflection: "And leaned over the railing at the top— / Strong and warm, that summer wind." This closing image contrasts with the earlier depictions of conflict and struggle. At the top of the monument, the speaker finds a sense of peace, symbolized by the "strong and warm" summer wind. This wind, which contrasts with the earlier hurricane, suggests that the speaker has reached a place of understanding and acceptance. The warmth of the wind may also symbolize the enduring affection or connection that remains after years of challenges and hardships.

"Years" is a poem that captures the emotional complexity of a long-term relationship, with its moments of anger, conflict, and exhaustion, as well as its moments of intimacy, reflection, and growth. Through its vivid imagery and concise language, Ostriker conveys the idea that relationships, like monuments, are built over time and require both effort and resilience to navigate. The poem suggests that while the journey may be difficult, it can also lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and the other, and perhaps, a lasting sense of connection.

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