Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"When the Young Husband" by Donald Hall is a vivid and poignant exploration of the consequences of infidelity, capturing the tension between immediate desire and long-term repercussions. Through a detailed narrative and prophetic insights, the poem reflects on the devastating impact of a moment's decision on multiple lives.

The poem begins by setting the scene: "When the young husband picked up his friend's pretty wife / in the taxi one block from her townhouse for their / first lunch together, in a hotel dining room / with a room key in his pocket." This opening establishes the clandestine nature of the meeting and hints at the planned infidelity. The inclusion of "a room key in his pocket" signals the premeditated intent behind the encounter.

As the taxi comes to a halt in gridlocked traffic, time seems to pause: "midtown traffic gridlocked and was abruptly still. / For one moment before Klaxons started honking, / a prophetic voice spoke in his mind's ear despite / his pulse's erotic thudding." This moment of stillness allows for a prophetic voice to emerge, warning the young husband of the misery he is about to undertake. The juxtaposition of the "erotic thudding" pulse with the prophetic warning underscores the internal conflict between physical desire and moral foresight.

The prophetic voice delivers a detailed and grim forecast of the consequences of the affair: "The misery you undertake this afternoon / will accompany you to the ends of your lives." This prediction emphasizes the long-lasting nature of the decision, suggesting that the repercussions will be felt for a lifetime. The voice also acknowledges the complicity of both parties: "She knew what she did, when she agreed to this lunch, / although she will not admit it."

The poem then delves into the imagined scenario of the affair: "and you've constructed your playlet a thousand times: / cocktails, an omelet, wine; the revelation / of a room key; the elevator rising as / the penis elevates; the skin / flushed, the door fumbled at, the handbag dropped; the first / kiss with open mouths, nakedness, swoon, thrust-and-catch." Hall captures the anticipation and physicality of the encounter, highlighting the meticulously planned seduction.

However, the prophetic voice quickly shifts to the aftermath: "endorphins followed by endearments; a brief nap; / another fit, restoration / of clothes, arrangements for another encounter, / the taxi back, and the furtive kiss of good-bye." The seemingly romantic and exciting affair soon spirals into a cycle of deception and repeated encounters.

The consequences are severe: "Then, by turn: tears, treachery, anger, betrayal; / marriages and houses destroyed; / small children abandoned and inconsolable, / their foursquare estates disestablished forever." The poem highlights the ripple effect of the affair, destroying not only the lives of the couple involved but also their families and children. The imagery of "small children abandoned and inconsolable" and "their foursquare estates disestablished forever" evokes a sense of profound loss and disruption.

The prophetic voice continues to enumerate the fallout: "the unreadable advocates; the wretchedness / of passion outworn; anguished nights / sleepless in a bare room; whiskey, meth, cocaine; new / love, essayed in loneliness with miserable / strangers, that comforts nothing but skin; hours with sons / and daughters studious always / to maintain distrust." The descent into substance abuse, failed relationships, and strained familial bonds paints a bleak picture of the consequences of the affair.

The poem concludes with a stark reminder of the daily struggle to survive: "the daily desire to die / and the daily agony of the requirement / to survive, until only the quarrel endures." The final lines emphasize the enduring nature of the suffering caused by the affair, suggesting that the initial passion is replaced by a perpetual state of conflict and despair.

In the end, the prophetic vision fades as reality resumes: "Prophecy stopped; traffic started." This return to the present moment underscores the inevitability of the choice made by the young husband, despite the clear warning of its consequences.

"When the Young Husband" by Donald Hall masterfully captures the fleeting excitement of infidelity and contrasts it with the enduring misery it brings. Through vivid imagery and a prophetic voice, Hall presents a powerful meditation on the cost of betrayal and the far-reaching impact of momentary decisions on the lives of many.

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