Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "West Fourth Street" is a reflection on aging, beauty, and the shifting perspectives that come with time. The poem situates the speaker in the heart of New York City, where the natural world and urban life intersect, offering a moment of contemplation amidst the vibrancy of the city. Through the lens of experience and wisdom, the speaker explores how her perception of beauty and desire has evolved over the years.

The poem opens with a vivid image of "sycamores... leafing out on West Fourth Street," signaling the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. The speaker acknowledges her age—she is "weirdly old"—but rather than lamenting it, she finds pleasure in the "pale iridescence" of the sycamores. This description suggests a newfound appreciation for the simple, subtle beauties of the world, which she perceives with clarity as she emerges "from the subway into traffic / and trash and patchouli gusts." The juxtaposition of the natural beauty of the sycamores with the urban realities of "traffic and trash" underscores the complex, layered nature of the city—a place where the sublime and the mundane coexist.

The speaker's ability to "read between the lines of [her] angled life" indicates a deepened understanding of herself and the world around her. This metaphor suggests that she has gained insight into the hidden meanings and truths of her existence, a skill that has come with age and experience. The speaker remarks that "pleasure frequently visits" her now, not in the form of intense passions or desires, but as a calm, clear appreciation of the world. This pleasure is not diminished by age but rather enriched by it, as the speaker notes that she has "less interfering with [her] gaze now," allowing her to see the world "clearly / and with less grievance and anger than before."

The speaker's diminished "grievance and anger" and "less desire" reflect a shift in her emotional landscape. The intense passions that once fueled her have "worn themselves out," leaving behind a more serene, contemplative state. This is not to say that she has "conquered these passions"—they have simply faded over time, making way for a different kind of beauty and contentment.

The poem then transitions to a scene in which the speaker observes "four Brazilian men / playing handball on a sunny concrete court." The men are described in terms of their physicality and vitality: "goatskin protecting their hands from the sting of the flying ball," their "backs like sinewy roots," and "gold flashing on their necks." The speaker is captivated by their energy and grace, watching them "samba with their shadows." This moment of admiration is tinged with nostalgia as the speaker recalls her father, "torqued like [him] fifty years ago," when "sons of immigrant Jews / played fierce handball in Manhattan playgrounds." This connection to her father and the past adds a layer of personal history and memory to her appreciation of the scene before her.

The speaker concludes that these men are "the essence of the city," embodying its vibrancy, diversity, and raw beauty. Her declaration that she has "learned to be a fool for beauty" encapsulates the poem's central theme: the recognition that, as one ages, the ability to find joy and meaning in beauty—whether in nature, human connection, or urban life—becomes a source of wisdom and solace. This beauty is not merely aesthetic but is also tied to the deeper understanding of life's fleeting moments and the connections that endure through time.

In "West Fourth Street," Ostriker captures the nuanced experience of aging, where the intensity of youth gives way to a more profound appreciation of the world. The speaker's ability to find beauty in the everyday and her acceptance of the changes that come with age reflect a maturity that embraces both the past and the present, finding harmony in the complexities of life. The poem is a meditation on the enduring power of beauty and the way it can continue to enrich one's life, even as the passions of youth fade.

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