Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Closing Time" by David Wagoner explores the frailty, chaos, and inevitability of human behavior under the veil of intoxication and exhaustion. The poem juxtaposes the fleeting camaraderie and hedonism of a night out with the sobering reality of its aftermath, all wrapped in vivid imagery and a cadence that echoes the melancholy of last call at a bar.

The poem begins with a tactile depiction of light "flaking down like chromium," a metaphor that mirrors the disintegration of composure among the patrons. The "tumbler falling" not only represents the literal collapse of a glass but also foreshadows the unraveling lives of those who partake in the night’s revelry. The imagery here is cinematic, almost mechanical, as objects and people alike succumb to gravity and dissolution.

Wagoner’s language is meticulous and layered with symbolism. The phrase "good night to shuffleboard and counter-check" serves as a farewell not just to bar games but to the illusion of control and strategy in life. The description of the "last ball bearing pins its magnet down" conjures a sense of finality, paralleling the inevitable outcomes awaiting the characters outside the tavern. The clock, a silent witness to the passing hours, urges a reckoning—whether it is deciphering relationships or navigating the journey home.

The poet’s tone takes on a darkly sardonic edge as he describes the fates of the patrons. "Good night to folding friends on the parking lot" evokes a blend of humor and pity, as the inebriated collapse like discarded paper. Similarly, the comparison of closed eyelids to "bottlecaps" extends the metaphor of human fragility, emphasizing the disconnect between the revelers and their surroundings.

The middle stanza delves into the physical and emotional detritus of the night. Wagoner sketches vignettes of individuals in varying states of disrepair: those "hung on banisters," "in the tubs," or carrying the "incinerators in their arms"—an image that might signify the lingering warmth of alcohol or the destructive fire of addiction. The repetition of "good night" functions as both a farewell and an elegy, marking the end of a temporary escape from reality.

As the poem closes, Wagoner shifts his focus to those venturing into the dangers of the outside world. The "drivers driven by themselves" symbolize not just the literal hazard of drunk driving but also the existential recklessness of individuals steering their own lives off course. The imagery grows increasingly catastrophic, culminating in the grim portrayal of crashes and "cartwheeling out of sight." This sense of spiraling chaos underscores the poem’s meditation on human vulnerability and the precarious balance between freedom and responsibility.

"Closing Time" resonates as a poignant reflection on the rituals of nightlife and their broader implications. Wagoner captures the contradictions of human nature—our need for connection, our penchant for self-destruction, and our struggle to find meaning amid the disorder. Through vivid detail and rhythmic precision, the poem invites readers to confront their own nocturnal follies and the fragile humanity that binds us all.

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