Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Obstructions" by James Dickey is a vivid and sprawling poem that traverses a vast emotional and geographical landscape, encapsulating moments of confusion, loss, and introspection. The poem is built on a series of symbolic and literal obstacles that the narrator encounters, each representing different stages and experiences of life, weaving them into a narrative that reflects on the human condition and the often tumultuous journey of self-discovery and understanding.

The poem begins in a metaphorical cornfield, where the narrator, described as "drunk on your own afterbirth," stumbles through rows that transform into roads of life. This imagery of intoxication and wandering through corn—traditionally a symbol of sustenance and growth—sets the stage for a journey through both nurturing and obstructive environments. The encounter with a deer eating rotten shucks introduces themes of decay and the consumption of what is left behind, suggesting cycles of life and renewal even in decay.

The transition to a scene of young men standing before a goal, and the narrator's immersion into this crowd while dressed in protective gear, hints at the challenges and confrontations of youth, possibly alluding to sports or other competitive endeavors as metaphors for social struggle or personal battles.

From here, the poem shifts abruptly to a motel room in Fresno, California, an impersonal, transient space where the narrator encounters a forgettable face, suggesting fleeting relationships and the loneliness that can accompany them. The dive into a swimming pool in the early morning, surrounded by the "mighty rhythm of cottages where pilots lay with their girls," evokes a sense of fleeting pleasure and the ephemeral nature of such moments.

The narrator’s journey continues over a rusted aircraft engine, a relic pulled from the ocean, its decay a potent symbol of the past that is preserved yet corroded by time. This passage not only underscores the theme of obstructions but also reflects on the burden of history and the remnants of technology that mark human progress and its limitations.

As the poem progresses, the setting shifts to moonlit graves on an island, likely Okinawa, referencing World War II and its aftermath. The narrator’s naked journey through these graves with a canteen of bourbon and grapefruit juice is a poignant image of vulnerability and an attempt to anesthetize or confront the haunting memories of war and death.

The narrative then expands to include peacetime experiences in France and an academic setting where the narrator is faced with the "stone question" of students resembling Greek statues, pondering loss and what remains after parts of oneself have been metaphorically chipped away through life's experiences. This academic setting shifts to a field where the narrator, now older and supported by his sons, reflects on life's transient beauty and its fading light, pulling a cane from a bush and sitting, resigned or perhaps contemplative, facing the inevitabilities of age and mortality.

"Obstructions" is a meditative exploration of life's journey, marked by both literal and figurative obstacles that shape human experience. Through rich, evocative imagery and shifting landscapes, Dickey captures the complexity of navigating through the varied terrains of life, each phase carrying its own set of challenges and revelations. The poem is a reflection on aging, memory, and the perennial human struggle to find meaning and clarity amidst the obstructions we encounter.

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