Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

David Wagoner’s "Apotheosis of the Garbagemen" transforms the mundane activity of waste collection into an exalted, almost mythic ritual. Through rich imagery and dynamic language, the poem elevates the garbagemen to a state of reverence, portraying them as intermediaries between the human world and the realm of decay and renewal.

The poem begins with an invocation of the garbagemen returning "in the night through alleys to find us." By framing their arrival as a nocturnal quest, Wagoner immediately imbues their work with an aura of mystery and significance. The description of "the clashing of raised lids" and "garage doors" paints an auditory landscape that echoes with activity, signaling the garbagemen’s presence as both chaotic and necessary.

Wagoner’s use of luminous imagery, such as "in luminous coveralls" and "smashed jars prinked out with light," contrasts sharply with the grim reality of their task. This interplay of light and dark underscores the poem’s central theme: the beauty and vitality inherent in decay. The garbagemen are not merely disposing of refuse; they are engaging in an alchemical process, transforming the detritus of life into something elemental and universal.

The poem’s catalog of waste—apple cores, candy wrappers, burnt-out lightbulbs, and turkey wishbones—serves as a microcosm of human existence. These discarded objects, once integral to daily life, now serve as symbols of consumption and ephemerality. Yet Wagoner’s tone is not one of condemnation but of celebration. The garbagemen’s actions are depicted as both pragmatic and sacred, as they "untie the knots in plastic bags" and "catch the half-burnt ashes raining around their heads." Their work is portrayed as a dance, a ritual act of reconciliation with the material world.

Wagoner’s diction is playful yet profound. Phrases like "the phantasms of horseflies" and "the marrow whistling out of the wishbones of turkeys" transform the detritus of everyday life into surreal, almost magical entities. The garbagemen themselves become larger-than-life figures, their movements likened to cosmic forces—"dragging geometry in a dark clutch of rainbows." This metaphor suggests that their work, though rooted in the mundane, carries a deeper significance, connecting humanity to the cycles of nature and decay.

The climax of the poem occurs as the garbagemen "go back in their empty trucks and [sing] to the dump." The dump, often seen as a place of finality and waste, is reimagined as a site of potential and rebirth. Described as "the steaming rust" and "the rolling, hunch-backed, beckoning earth," it becomes a metaphorical underworld, a place where the remnants of life are transformed and reabsorbed into the earth. The garbagemen, then, are likened to mythic figures or shamans, guiding these remnants back to "God’s plenty."

The poem’s conclusion is both celebratory and cyclical. The garbagemen are envisioned returning "with all we could wish for / In the darkness, singing love and wild appetite." This image suggests that their labor is not merely about disposal but about renewal and abundance. The final lines, with their mention of "good rats and roaches" and "beautiful hogs and billygoats dancing around them," further emphasize the interconnectedness of all life, even in its most unglamorous forms.

Structurally, the poem’s free verse mirrors the fluid and dynamic nature of the garbagemen’s work. The lack of a fixed meter or rhyme scheme allows the language to flow organically, much like the chaotic yet purposeful movements of the garbagemen themselves. Enjambment and varied line lengths create a sense of motion and immediacy, drawing the reader into the sensory world of the poem.

"Apotheosis of the Garbagemen" challenges readers to reconsider their perceptions of labor, waste, and the natural cycles of life and decay. By elevating the garbagemen to mythic status, Wagoner reminds us of the dignity and significance of their work, as well as the beauty that can be found in even the most overlooked aspects of existence. The poem ultimately serves as both a tribute and a meditation on the interconnectedness of all things, urging us to recognize the sacred in the everyday.

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