Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Book of Days 9" by Martha Collins is a thoughtful exploration of movement, identity, and societal expectations, juxtaposed with personal freedom and transformation. Through the lens of running and the varied reactions it provokes, Collins delves into broader themes of gender roles, change, and the search for self-expression within and against the grain of societal norms.

The poem begins with a simple, joyful image: "People with two dogs run in the yard with their two dogs." This scene sets the stage for reflections on running, both as a physical activity and a metaphor for broader human experiences and desires.

The speaker's personal history with running is introduced through memories of circling a three-mile pond, encountering characters like a priest and an "old woman who looked contempt / at my blue shoes." The old woman's comment, "'In my time,' she said once, / 'women got their exercise at home,'" serves as a critique of the speaker's choice to run outdoors, reflecting societal attitudes towards women's roles and appropriate behavior. This interaction underscores the tension between individual desires and societal expectations, a theme that resonates throughout the poem.

The narrative then shifts to a film watched "Last night," where "the man became / the woman and then the man for the woman he loved." This transformation in the film mirrors the transformations the speaker experiences through running, suggesting parallels between physical movement and more profound shifts in identity and self-perception. The film's plot, encapsulating "the whole old story at once, / the best parts of its plots," speaks to the complexity of human relationships and the fluidity of identity, challenging traditional narratives and roles.

The poem closes with a return to the scene of running, where "Between the patterns / the terriers make, / the upright creature, / covered in bright cloth, starts / and stops and starts and stops and claps her hands." This image of the speaker, described as an "upright creature" in motion, captures the essence of the poem's exploration of movement as an expression of freedom and individuality. The repetition of "starts and stops" reflects the rhythm of running and, by extension, the rhythm of life's continuous cycle of action and pause, expression and restraint.

"Book of Days 9" invites readers to consider the ways in which physical activities like running can serve as acts of defiance against restrictive societal norms, and as avenues for exploring and asserting one's identity. Through its vivid imagery and contemplative tone, Collins offers a narrative that is both specific in its details and universal in its themes, echoing the ongoing dialogue between the self and the ever-changing world. The poem stands as a testament to the power of movement—not just as a means of physical exercise, but as a form of personal expression, transformation, and resistance.

POEM TEXT: https://capa.conncoll.edu/collins.space.htm#DAYS

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