Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "To the Field Goal Kicker in a Slump" uses the metaphor of athletic failure to explore the experience of creative blockage and the crisis of confidence that can accompany it. In just a few lines, Pastan captures the frustration, self-doubt, and disillusionment that come with failing to perform in a role that once felt natural and perhaps even destined.

The poem begins with a comparison: "It must be something / like writer's block." This simile immediately bridges the world of sports with that of creative writing, suggesting that the mental and emotional challenges faced by a struggling athlete are akin to those encountered by a writer who cannot find the words. Both scenarios involve an inability to achieve a goal that, under different circumstances, would seem routine or at least within reach.

The line "when nothing will go / between the margins" cleverly plays on the dual meanings of margins. For the writer, margins are the boundaries of the page where words are confined; for the kicker, the margins are the goalposts, the physical space through which the ball must pass. In both cases, the failure to succeed is framed by these margins, highlighting the precision required in both writing and kicking. The phrase also evokes a sense of frustration when the usual fluency or accuracy fails to manifest, leaving the individual stuck in a cycle of failed attempts.

Pastan further deepens the comparison with "when language won't soar / high enough," connecting the failure of the kicker to reach the goalpost with the writer's struggle to elevate their words to the desired level of expression. The use of "soar" suggests an aspiration for something greater, a desire for words (or the ball) to transcend the ordinary, to achieve something remarkable. When this doesn't happen, it leaves both the kicker and the writer grounded, unable to reach the heights they once did.

The poem reaches its emotional core with the lines "when you wake / in the morning and know / you've chosen / the wrong game." This moment of self-doubt and existential questioning is something that resonates beyond sports and writing, touching on a universal fear: the realization that one's chosen path might not be the right one. The kicker, like the writer, faces the dread of waking up and feeling disconnected from their purpose, questioning their decisions and wondering if they have invested their efforts in the wrong pursuit.

"To the Field Goal Kicker in a Slump" is a succinct yet powerful meditation on the nature of failure and the internal battles that accompany it. Through her use of metaphor, Pastan skillfully connects the physical world of sports with the mental and emotional landscape of creativity, highlighting the shared experience of those who strive to achieve and the crushing weight of doubt that can follow when they fall short. The poem offers a compassionate acknowledgment of this struggle, recognizing it as a universal human experience, whether on the field or the page.

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