Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Tony Hoagland's "The Change" is a vivid and incisive reflection on societal shifts, personal biases, and the inexorable march of time. Through the lens of a seemingly mundane tennis match, Hoagland explores themes of race, identity, and the cultural transformations that mark the passage of history.

The poem opens with a comparison that sets the tone for the transient nature of life: "The season turned like the page of a glossy fashion magazine." This simile captures the rapid and superficial changes that often characterize societal shifts. The blooming daffodils and the new car models on parade symbolize renewal and progress, yet the speaker quickly tempers this with a cynical observation: "Sometimes I think that nothing really changes."

Hoagland contrasts these superficial changes with deeper, more enduring societal patterns. The young girls displaying their midriffs and the incompetence of a new president suggest a cyclical repetition of the same cultural phenomena. This sets the stage for the poem's central narrative: a tennis match that becomes a microcosm of larger societal tensions.

The speaker recalls stumbling upon the match by chance and being drawn into its drama. The description of the players—"some tough little European blonde / pitted against that big black girl from Alabama"—immediately sets up a stark contrast. The European player, with her "pale eyes and thin lips," represents the old world, while the black player, with her "cornrowed hair and Zulu bangles," embodies the new, defiant and powerful. The use of an "outrageous name like Vondella Aphrodite" adds to the mythic quality of the scene, suggesting a clash of titans.

The speaker and his companion become emotionally invested in the match, each aligning with one of the players. The speaker's admission of rooting for the white girl "because she was one of my kind, my tribe" reveals an uncomfortable truth about ingrained biases. The black girl, described as "so big and so black, / so unintimidated," embodies a forceful challenge to the status quo, "hitting the ball like she was driving the Emancipation Proclamation / down Abraham Lincoln's throat."

As the match progresses, it becomes clear that this is more than just a sporting event; it is a moment of historical significance. The speaker notes, "There are moments when history / passes you so close / you can smell its breath." This tactile imagery emphasizes the immediacy and impact of the event, which symbolizes the broader cultural shifts occurring at the time.

The climax of the poem sees the black girl decisively winning the match, "kicking her ass good / then thumped her once more for good measure." Her victory, celebrated by holding her racket aloft "like a guitar," is a powerful image of triumph and transformation. The "little pink judge" who "had to climb up on a box / to put the ribbon on her neck" represents the awkward adjustment of society to new realities, forced to acknowledge and honor a new champion.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the inevitability of change: "even though everything was changing / and in fact, everything had already changed." The speaker and his companion realize that they have witnessed a pivotal moment, one that signifies the end of an era and the beginning of another. The final lines, "we were there, / and when we went to put it back where it belonged, / it was past us / and we were changed," underscore the irreversible nature of change and its profound impact on individual and collective consciousness.

"The Change" by Tony Hoagland is a masterful exploration of how personal experiences intersect with broader historical forces. Through its vivid imagery and candid reflections, the poem captures the complexities of identity, bias, and cultural evolution, inviting readers to confront their own perceptions and the inevitable changes that shape our world.

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