Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Matthews' poem "On a Diet" explores the theme of self-restraint and the sacrifices made in pursuit of an ideal, using food as a metaphor for indulgence and temptation. The epigraph, a quote from boxer Archie Moore, humorously suggests a paradoxical approach to dieting: "Eat all you want but don’t swallow it." This sets the tone for the poem, where Matthews delves into the complexities of desire and self-denial.

The poem begins with a renouncement of culinary pleasures, described through a rich tapestry of imagery. The "ruth of soups and balm of sauces" and the "buttery frizzle in the sauté pan" evoke the sensory delights of food, equating them to visual stimuli that one might interpret, like a Rorschach test. This comparison highlights the subjective nature of pleasure and the personal interpretation of desire. Matthews lists a series of indulgent foods—bananas with their "sweet peat-smoke tang," "cream in clots," and "chocolate"—all of which he renounces. The use of the word "ruth," meaning compassion or pity, suggests a deliberate and perhaps painful choice to forgo these pleasures.

The speaker’s decision to "leave it behind" and embrace "desire for food" rather than food itself underscores the theme of sacrifice. By choosing desire, the speaker commits to a state of longing and deprivation, opting for an ascetic lifestyle. This choice is framed as a journey toward "the heaven of revisions," implying a process of self-improvement or transformation. The idea of travelling light suggests shedding excesses and focusing on a more refined, perhaps spiritual, existence.

The poem's rhetorical question, "Why be adipose: an expense, etc., / in a waste, etc.?" reflects a critique of indulgence and excess. The term "adipose," referring to body fat, is portrayed as something unnecessary and wasteful. The repetition of "etc." emphasizes the common arguments and clichés surrounding the discourse on dieting and body image, hinting at a broader societal commentary.

Matthews then draws a parallel between the physical body and the "body of the poet’s work." This metaphor suggests that just as a poet refines their work, so too should one refine their body and self. The "pale shadows" that "begin to pare and replace / the poet’s body" evoke the idea of a literary work becoming more substantial and significant than the physical presence of the poet. This transition reflects the speaker's contemplation on the passage of time and the impermanence of physical forms compared to the lasting nature of creative achievements.

The closing line, "and isn’t it time?" encapsulates the poem's contemplative tone, questioning the necessity and timing of this self-imposed restraint. It suggests a moment of introspection, perhaps acknowledging the inevitability of aging and the desire to achieve something more enduring than physical pleasures.

In "On a Diet," Matthews masterfully intertwines themes of indulgence, restraint, and the search for a higher purpose. The poem is rich with sensory language and metaphor, painting a vivid picture of the internal struggle between desire and discipline. Through the lens of dieting, Matthews explores broader existential questions about the nature of fulfillment and the pursuit of a meaningful life, ultimately suggesting that true refinement lies in the realm of the mind and spirit rather than the physical body.

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