Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

William Matthews' poem "Visiting Hours" delves into the realms of memory, imagination, and longing. The poem's narrative explores the interplay between reality and fantasy, as the speaker revisits a scene that never actually occurred, highlighting the ways in which our minds construct and reconstruct moments of intimacy and desire. Matthews employs vivid imagery and a reflective tone to explore themes of love, regret, and the ephemeral nature of time.

The poem opens with a seemingly mundane scene: "A cat came round the shed with tail erect, but no one else was there." The presence of the cat and the absence of anyone else set a tone of solitude and anticipation. The "blue rivulets of shadow" from the "tatty mullein stems" create a tranquil yet melancholic atmosphere, as these shadows "trickled steadily across the snowcrust." The setting is quiet, a place where "nothing would happen here except I would come and let it all not happen one more time." This line suggests a ritualistic return to a place imbued with personal significance, even if nothing occurs there.

Matthews then transitions into a memory or perhaps an imagined scene involving a blue dress: "In fact you never owned that blue dress, so how could you have crossed your spindly arms and grasped it by the hem and pulled it, rather slowly I thought, over your smiling face, then stalled a beat or two like that?" This detailed recollection is vivid and intimate, capturing a moment of undressing that is laden with emotional and sensory detail. The act of pulling the dress over a smiling face and pausing creates a powerful image of anticipation and connection.

The speaker reflects on the intensity of this imagined encounter: "I was happy beyond explanation with our drama, so that while you paused in a silk caesura I insinuated, and for this I had knelt, my nubbled tongue into your soapy navel, for you were fresh from the shower, and then we were all over one another." The use of "silk caesura" to describe the pause adds a poetic elegance to the memory, while the physicality of the interaction emphasizes the deep intimacy and longing. The speaker's happiness and fulfillment in this moment, though imagined, are palpable.

However, the poem takes a turn with the realization that "Later there was hell to pay and hell would take a check, but that's another story." This line introduces a sense of consequence and regret, hinting at complications and fallout from the intimacy, whether real or imagined. The speaker acknowledges the complexity of the situation, likening it to having a "lock on your door, a lie, but then you're locked in, just you and the lie." This metaphor captures the entrapment and isolation that can come from living within the confines of a constructed reality or falsehood.

The speaker confronts the unreality of the memory: "But you never owned that dress, nor slithered out of it, nor did I kneel and slather. So why did I go back? Because we had not been there." This acknowledgment of the nonexistence of the event raises questions about the nature of memory and desire. The speaker's return to the scene, despite knowing it never happened, underscores a longing for connection and the power of imagination to create meaningful experiences.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the unchanged nature of the setting: "It was the same then as it was when I went back because we'd not been there, and then my time was up." This final line encapsulates the cyclical nature of the speaker's visits and the unchanged reality of the place. The phrase "my time was up" suggests a limit to the speaker's contemplation, a return to the present after indulging in the imagined past.

"Visiting Hours" by William Matthews is a poignant exploration of memory, imagination, and longing. Through rich imagery and reflective narrative, Matthews captures the tension between reality and fantasy, highlighting the ways in which we construct and revisit moments of intimacy. The poem's exploration of love, regret, and the passage of time invites readers to reflect on their own memories and the powerful role of imagination in shaping our experiences.

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