Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Matthews' poem "Whiplash" explores the complexities of causality, personal responsibility, and the relentless march of time through the lens of a seemingly mundane car accident. The poem intertwines themes of financial hardship, familial relationships, and the unpredictable nature of life, using vivid imagery and a reflective tone to delve into the protagonist's internal and external worlds.

The poem begins by setting the stage with the protagonist's financial struggles: "That month he was broke, / so when the brakes to his car / went sloshy, he let them go." This decision to neglect the car's brakes due to financial constraints introduces the idea of causality and foreshadows the inevitable consequences. The arrival of the protagonist's mother adds a layer of complexity to his life, as they engage in activities to avoid direct, serious conversation: "to have something / to do while they talked besides / sitting down like a seminar / to talk."

The protagonist's casual attitude towards the broken brakes is highlighted through his humor: "One day soon he'd fix / the brakes, or—as he joked / after nearly bashing a cab / and skidding widdershins / through the intersection / of Viewcrest and Edgecliff— / they'd fix him, one of these / oncoming days." This flippant remark underscores a deeper awareness of the impending disaster, yet it is brushed aside in the daily grind of life.

Matthews delves into the human tendency to seek explanations for our experiences: "We like / to explain our lives to ourselves, / so many of our fictions / are about causality." This reflection on causality is illustrated through various examples, such as chess problems, insurance policies, and psychotherapy, suggesting that we construct narratives to make sense of our lives and the events that shape them.

The poem's turning point occurs with the car accident, which Matthews describes in both slow motion and rapid succession: "And so when his car one slick day / oversped its dwindling ability / to stop itself and smacked two / parked cars and lightly kissed / another, like a satisfying / billiards shot." This vivid depiction emphasizes the suddenness and inevitability of the crash, highlighting how the protagonist's earlier decisions culminate in this moment.

In the aftermath of the accident, the protagonist experiences a profound realization: "it seemed not that his whole life / swam or skidded before him, / but that his whole life was behind / him, like a physical force." This metaphor of the past as a physical force propelling the present echoes the poem's exploration of causality, suggesting that our histories shape our actions and their outcomes.

Matthews draws an intriguing parallel between the protagonist's realization and a dinosaur's nervous system: "the way a dinosaur's body / was behind its brain and the news / surged up and down its vast / and clumsy spine like an early / version of the blues." This comparison underscores the slow, cumbersome nature of processing and reacting to life's events, adding a layer of existential reflection.

The poem concludes with a striking image of the protagonist singing: "And that's how the police found him, full-throated, / dried blood on his white suit / as if he'd been caught in a rust- / storm, song running back and forth / along his hurt body like the action / of a wave." This act of singing serves as a coping mechanism, a way to assert his humanity and find connection amidst the chaos. The metaphor of the wave, which is not water but a force displayed by water, encapsulates the poem's central theme of interconnectedness and the relentless flow of time and events.

"Whiplash" by William Matthews is a profound exploration of the intricate web of causality, personal responsibility, and the human condition. Through its rich imagery and reflective narrative, the poem invites readers to contemplate the ways in which our past decisions shape our present and future, and how we navigate the complexities of life with a mix of humor, resignation, and resilience.

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