Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Sherman Alexie's "Penance" is a poignant, short poem that delves into the complex relationship between a father and his child through the lens of basketball. This serves as a metaphor for larger themes like penance, discipline, and the quest for perfection and forgiveness. The poem is concise, yet it's filled with a deep emotional resonance that captures the complicated emotions between parent and child.

The structure of the poem is fragmented, with each line containing just a few words. This structure might reflect the fragmented relationship between the father and the child. It also serves to focus attention on every word and its importance, mimicking the heavy, scrutinizing environment the father seems to create.

The setting on "Sundays" already carries religious undertones, serving as a backdrop for the ritual of shooting free throws. Described as one for "every day of my life so far," the action is both an exercise and an examination, each throw an attempt at redemption or confirmation of some unidentified guilt or inadequacy-"the sin of imperfect spin." In a religious context, penance is an act of devotion to atone for one's sins. Here, the child is atoning for the sin of 'imperfection', not in moral or ethical terms, but in the innocuous setting of a basketball game. Still, the emotional weight feels just as heavy.

The basketball here isn't just a basketball; it's a symbol for the child's efforts, goals, and even flaws. The act of the ball falling into the hoop is described in quasi-sacramental terms. It falls into "that moment between/a father and forgive-/ness," transforming a simple game into a solemn act of atonement and reconciliation. It's not merely about sinking the shot, but about earning a father's forgiveness for being imperfect, for not meeting up to undefined yet palpable expectations.

The final lines of the poem open up to a broader theme: "between the hands reach-/ing up and everything/they can possibly hold." The hands here could be the child's reaching up to make the basket, or they could metaphorically be reaching up for the father's approval, love, or forgiveness. Yet they also symbolize the limitations of human aspirations-"everything they can possibly hold" is both an acknowledgement of potential and a tacit admission of human limitations.

"Penance" is a masterclass in economy, packing universal truths into a highly specific narrative. The complexities of father-child dynamics, the quest for forgiveness, and the human confrontation with limitations are compressed into this short poem. It uses the setting of a basketball court to explore intimate family dynamics and broader human themes, showcasing Alexie's skill at weaving the micro and macro in a seamless narrative fabric.

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