Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Eyes Only" delves into the intimate and often elusive nature of communication, exploring the metaphoric journey of a letter from sender to recipient as it navigates the distance between two souls. Pastan, whose work frequently meditates on the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time, uses this poem to illustrate the fragility and depth of connection, as well as the inherent challenges in bridging the emotional gaps that separate us.

The poem opens with an address to a "lost sharer / of silences," immediately establishing a tone of longing and distance. The phrase "lost sharer" suggests a relationship that once thrived in mutual understanding, now fractured or distant. The shared silences imply a deep, unspoken bond—one where words were unnecessary, and presence alone sufficed. Yet, this connection is now strained, requiring the speaker to reach out through a letter, a medium that carries the weight of both presence and absence.

Pastan then introduces the idea of sending a letter "the way the tree sends messages / in leaves, / or the sky in exclamations / of pure cloud." Here, the natural world becomes a metaphor for communication. Trees communicate their existence through the silent but visible language of leaves, just as the sky speaks in clouds. These messages are subtle, indirect, and ephemeral—mirroring the way human beings often communicate feelings that are difficult to articulate directly. The use of natural imagery highlights the organic, yet fragile, nature of these exchanges.

The speaker's choice to write in "blue / ink, color / of secret veins / and arteries" adds another layer of intimacy to the poem. The color blue, often associated with depth, introspection, and melancholy, symbolizes the hidden currents of emotion flowing beneath the surface. By likening the ink to veins and arteries, the speaker emphasizes the lifeblood of the letter, suggesting that it carries something vital—perhaps the essence of the speaker's heart or soul. The morning setting further underscores the freshness of the message, as though the letter is a new attempt to revive or restore the lost connection.

As the poem progresses, the postman becomes a central figure, walking "the innocent streets, / dangerous as Aeolus / with his bag of winds, / or Hermes, the messenger, / god of sleep and dreams." The postman, typically seen as a benign, everyday figure, is elevated to the status of mythological gods. Aeolus, the keeper of winds, and Hermes, the god of messages and dreams, both symbolize the power of communication to transport not just words, but also emotions and memories. The comparison suggests that the letter holds within it the potential to disrupt, heal, or transform—the winds can stir up storms, and messages can bridge or widen the gap between sender and recipient.

The poem takes a darker turn as it describes the impersonal process of letters being "weighed / and sorted like meat" in public buildings, and "hidden like robbers' booty" in railway stations. This imagery conveys the cold, mechanical nature of the postal system, which contrasts sharply with the intimate, personal nature of the letter's contents. The letter, which is meant to carry the speaker's deepest feelings, is reduced to just another object in a vast, indifferent system. The sense of vulnerability is palpable—the letter, and by extension the speaker's emotions, are at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

In the final stanzas, Pastan introduces the idea of the recipient as a "conjurer" who holds a "fan of letters" before the speaker's outstretched hand, asking them to "Pick any card." This evokes the uncertainty and randomness of communication—will the intended message reach its target? The act of tearing the envelope "as you would tear bread" brings to mind the ritual of breaking bread, a symbol of communion and sharing. Only by tearing open the envelope can the "dark rivers / of ink" begin to flow, metaphorically thawing the frozen channels of communication and allowing the emotions to reach their intended destination.

The poem concludes with the poignant acknowledgment of "all the bridges / we have failed / to build / between us." This line captures the essence of the poem—a lament for the missed connections, the unspoken words, and the emotional distances that remain uncrossed despite our best efforts. The flowing ink under these unbuilt bridges represents the emotions that could have connected the speaker and the recipient, now set adrift, perhaps never to reach their destination.

"Eyes Only" is a meditation on the fragility of human connection and the delicate art of communication. Pastan masterfully uses the metaphor of a letter to explore the emotional terrain between two people, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties inherent in expressing oneself across distances—whether physical or emotional. The poem leaves readers with a lingering sense of both the power and the limitations of language, inviting reflection on the bridges we build, and those we fail to construct, in our own lives.

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