Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Donald Justice’s “Mule Team and Poster” paints a vivid picture of a scene from 1936 Alabama through the lens of a photograph by Walker Evans. The poem juxtaposes the mundane and the dreamlike, evoking the stark realities of rural life while hinting at the fantasies and aspirations that coexist with them.

The poem opens with a straightforward description: “Two mules stand waiting in front of the brick wall of a warehouse, / hitched to a shabby flatbed wagon.” This image sets a scene of rural simplicity and work, with the mules and wagon suggesting hard labor and modest means. The “shabby flatbed wagon” indicates wear and tear, emphasizing the rough conditions.

The wheels of the wagon are compared to “crude wooden flowers / pulled recently from a deep and stubborn mud.” This simile brings a sense of struggle and emergence, as if the wagon wheels have been liberated from difficult circumstances, yet they retain their rough, earthy essence. The use of “flowers” adds a touch of unexpected beauty to the otherwise gritty scene.

The transition to weather introduces a shift in tone: “The rains have passed over for now / and the sun is back, / Invisible, but everywhere present, / and of a special brightness, like God.” Here, Justice uses the sun as a metaphor for divine presence, illuminating the scene with a pervasive brightness. The comparison to God elevates the ordinary sunlight to a symbol of hope and transcendence.

The poem then shifts focus to the poster: “The way the poster for the traveling show / still clings to its section of the wall / It looks as though a huge door stood open / or a terrible flap of brain had been peeled back, revealing.” This powerful imagery suggests that the poster offers a glimpse into another world, one of entertainment and escape. The idea of a “huge door” or “flap of brain” being opened evokes a sense of revelation and exposure.

The poster itself depicts “someone’s idea of heaven: / seven dancing-girls, caught on the upkick, / All in fringed dresses and bobbed hair.” This image contrasts sharply with the everyday scene of the mules and the warehouse, offering a vision of glamour and excitement. The presence of a Spanish comb and an escort hints at exoticism and romance, elements far removed from the mules’ patient labor.

While the mules “crunch patiently the few cornshucks / someone has thoughtfully scattered for them,” the poster is described as “torn in places, slightly crumpled; / a few bricks, here and there, show through.” This detail brings the fantasy back to reality, showing how dreams and aspirations can be worn and imperfect, just like the torn poster.

The poem concludes with a striking image: “And a long shadow– / the last shade perhaps in all of Alabama– / Stretches beneath the wagon, crookedly, / like a great scythe laid down there and forgotten.” This shadow, likened to a scythe, carries connotations of death and harvest, suggesting the passage of time and the inevitability of mortality. The idea that it might be “the last shade” underscores the harshness of the environment, while the forgotten scythe hints at neglect and the remnants of past labor.

“Mule Team and Poster” by Donald Justice masterfully captures the interplay between reality and fantasy, highlighting the endurance of everyday life against the backdrop of dreams and aspirations. Through detailed imagery and poignant metaphors, the poem reflects on the human condition, the persistence of hope, and the enduring impact of both labor and longing.

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