Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Doing Battle with the Wolf" by Wanda Coleman is a visceral and metaphor-rich poem that delves deep into the themes of struggle, resilience, and survival against the backdrop of systemic oppression and personal adversities. Through the allegory of a continuous fight against a predatory wolf, Coleman crafts a narrative that is both intensely personal and universally resonant, reflecting the broader experiences of marginalized communities, particularly African American women.

The poem opens with the striking image of the speaker "drip[ping] blood" in various mundane and everyday contexts, immediately setting a tone of endurance and ongoing pain. This blood, symbolic of both physical and psychological wounds, marks the speaker's path through life, leaving a trace of her struggle in every space she occupies. The "occasional transfusion" and encounters with "vampires" suggest brief moments of relief or support amidst a landscape dominated by more formidable adversaries, notably the wolf, which embodies the systemic forces of racism, sexism, and violence that continually seek to devour.

Coleman's depiction of the wolf as an indiscriminate predator with a "fetish for black meat" is a powerful indictment of the predatory nature of societal oppression, highlighting the specific targeting of Black bodies. The wolf's mate hunting alongside him introduces themes of complicity and the collaborative nature of oppression, reinforcing the dangers that the speaker faces in her daily existence.

The "monthly bleeding of poison" serves as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of suffering and the process of purging oneself of the toxicity ingrained by external violence and discrimination. This imagery also alludes to the strength and resilience required to endure and resist these forces, as seen in the act of flushing away the blood—a symbolic rejection of the pain inflicted upon her.

The poem shifts towards a climactic confrontation with the wolf, invoking the speaker's lineage of resistance and survival through the "spear inherited from my father." This ancestral weapon, passed down through generations of psychics, runaway slaves, and witch doctors, signifies the deep-rooted history of struggle and resilience within the African American community. The speaker's identification as "an African warrior imprisoned inside my female form" speaks to the intersectional nature of her battle, fighting against the constraints imposed by both her race and gender.

The final scene of the poem is charged with tension and anticipation as the speaker prepares to face the wolf directly, armed with her inherited spear and the legacy of her ancestors. The damaged door, unable to close, symbolizes the ongoing vulnerability and the impossibility of complete protection from the dangers that lurk outside. The speaker's wound and the inability to apply bandages underscore the inevitability of injury in this battle, yet her determination to wait and confront the wolf head-on reflects a powerful assertion of agency and the will to survive.

"Doing Battle with the Wolf" is a profound meditation on the enduring fight against the systemic and personal wolves that threaten to consume us. Coleman's use of allegory and rich symbolism invites readers to reflect on their own battles and the sources of strength they draw upon in the face of adversity. Through this narrative, Coleman celebrates the legacy of resistance and the indomitable spirit required to navigate a world fraught with danger and discrimination.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Wicked_Enchantment/hKM_EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

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