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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem opens with a stark assertion, "To stop is to cave," suggesting that motion, progress, or perhaps the mere act of dressing up, is a defense against collapse or surrender. The reference to a "paradisiacal fruit" that becomes "a diaphanous parakeet green" evokes the search for something ideal or transformative, an object of desire that promises more than mere sustenance—a symbol of potential and change. The mention of "photos / of space" that induce a visceral reaction underscores the vastness and mystery of the universe, a reminder of the forces beyond human control that can evoke fear or awe. This cosmic scale contrasts sharply with the meticulous details of the speaker's attire, highlighting the tension between the grandeur of the external world and the personal, intimate acts of self-fashioning. The speaker's choice to wear black, "sheer / stockings, calligraphied earrings, touches of blush with blood-red beneath," serves as an armor of elegance and sophistication. This deliberate construction of appearance is both a shield and a statement, a way to navigate the gaze of others while asserting a sense of self. The idea that "Sometimes it's wise not to see," to willingly induce "a sight trance where blindness blanks out the flutter of the taut rope about to break free" speaks to the strategic avoidance of certain realities or dangers. It suggests that there is power in selective visibility, in choosing what to confront and what to ignore, as a means of preserving one's sanity or stability. "Less can be bettered by less" implies that restraint and subtlety can be more effective than overt displays, a philosophy that extends to the speaker's self-sufficiency and resilience ("knew how / to conceal and how to open a can with a knife"). The mention of "Sweet Finesse / and her cold friend, Necessity" personifies these qualities as companions on a "tightwired continuum," further emphasizing the balance between grace and survival. The concluding lines, with their vivid imagery of "well-defined lips" forming a doorway to inner demons, suggest that beneath the poised and polished exterior lie deeper struggles and desires. The rooms "filled with demons who dallied and kissed lascivious-flung stones, rattled chains, shaved men" serve as a metaphor for the chaotic, unruly aspects of the self or society that are kept at bay through the rituals of dressing and self-presentation. "Girls Dress Well to Stave Off Chaos" is a compelling meditation on the act of dressing as a form of control and expression, a way to navigate the complexities of identity and existence in a world that is both beautiful and bewildering. Mary Jo Bang captures the nuanced interplay between the visible and the hidden, the external and the internal, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the human psyche.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOTHER WATCH by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST OBERON'S FEAST by ROBERT HERRICK THE MALDIVE SHARK by HERMAN MELVILLE THE LADY AND THE SWINE by MOTHER GOOSE TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 1: 3. WINTER by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE THE ANGEL'S SONG; CAROL by EDMUND HAMILTON SEARS |
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