Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Under Cancer," John Hollander uses the imagery of sun exposure and its physical and metaphorical effects to explore themes of time, transformation, and the inevitability of change. The poem is a contemplation of the relentless passage of time under the harshness of the sun, juxtaposed with the cooling relief and introspective aftermath that follows.

The poem begins with the scene set on a terrace, where the sun "has been buzzing / Unbearably." This description captures the oppressive intensity of the sun, its constant presence almost overwhelming. The imagery of "The white baking happens / To the shadow of the table's / White-painted iron" suggests a stark contrast between light and shadow, heat and coolness, highlighting the physical sensation of being under the sun.

As the sun strengthens, the speaker acknowledges an "invisibly darkening" process, reflecting on how exposure to the sun affects both the shadow and the self: "I am invisibly darkening / Too, the while I whiten." This paradox of darkening while appearing to lighten (through sun exposure or perhaps through a figurative sense of aging and change) underscores the complexity of the transformation occurring.

The poem then transitions to the aftermath of sun exposure, where the speaker stretches and gets up, "still sweating," with a shirt "striped like an awning / Drawn on over airlessness." This imagery evokes a sense of confinement and stifling heat, as if the speaker is covered by an oppressive weight of the sun's rays.

Relief comes in the form of "cool shades" that "devoured the light," suggesting a movement from exposure to shelter. The "cold of / Plunge and shower" represents a cleansing, a stark contrast to the heat and light of the terrace. The "pale / Scent of deodorant stick / Smelling like gin and limes" brings a sensory detail that evokes refreshment and a return to normalcy.

Despite the cooling off, the speaker is aware of the lingering effects of the sun: "the buzzing of having been burnt." This persistent sensation indicates that the experience of sun exposure, and by extension the passage of time and its effects, leaves a lasting impression.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the inevitability of change and the subtle, often unnoticed ways it occurs: "Only then, intimations / Of tossing, hot in the dark / Night, where all the long while / Silently, along edges, / There is flaking away." The imagery of "flaking away" suggests a gradual shedding of old layers, a metaphor for the ongoing process of transformation and decay.

In the final lines, Hollander reflects on the paradox of time under the sun: "In this short while of light / My shadow darkens without / Lengthening ever, ever." This suggests a compressed experience of time, where changes happen internally and invisibly, rather than through the outwardly visible lengthening of shadows. The repetition of "ever, ever" emphasizes the continuous, unending nature of this process.

"Under Cancer" captures the interplay between light and dark, heat and coolness, transformation and constancy. Through rich sensory imagery and introspective reflection, Hollander invites readers to consider the subtle and often invisible ways in which time and experience shape our existence. The poem serves as a meditation on the enduring effects of change and the persistent passage of time, even in moments of stillness and apparent stasis.

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