Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem opens with a nostalgic call to the speaker's children, inviting them to recall a specific morning when the family embarked on a journey toward the Pacific Ocean in their "old Plymouth." This journey is not just a physical movement across the landscape but also symbolizes a journey through time and memory, encapsulating a moment of collective American history.

The reference to following "Dylan's songs all the way west" situates the poem within the cultural context of the 1970s, a time when Bob Dylan's music spoke to the desires for change, peace, and social justice. Dylan's songs, emblematic of the counterculture movement, provide a soundtrack to the journey, infusing it with a sense of purpose and belonging to a larger narrative of seeking a new direction after the war.

The line "It was Seventy; the war was over, almost;" reflects the liminal space in which the country found itself—on the verge of moving beyond the conflict in Vietnam, yet still grappling with its aftermath. This sense of being on the brink of something new, of transitioning from a period of conflict to one of potential peace, permeates the poem.

The imagery of closing the farm and driving into the vastness of the country, "eating the honey / Of distance and the word 'there,'" speaks to a desire to escape the confines of the past and the known. This escape is not just geographical but also psychological, a collective yearning for distance from the war and the divisions it wrought.

The repeated lines from a song, "Oh whee, we're gonna fly / Down into the easy chair," capture the optimism and carefree spirit of the journey. These lines, likely referencing "The Weight" by The Band, a song that was covered by many artists including Bob Dylan, evoke a sense of relief and anticipation of rest and comfort after a long struggle.

The poem's mention of laughing at Las Vegas, a city emblematic of American excess and artificiality, suggests a rejection of materialism in favor of more authentic experiences and values. The "gaiety / For all of us" and the vision of the ocean ahead symbolize hope for renewal and a fresh start.

"Driving West in 1970" concludes with a forward-looking gaze, anticipating the arrival of "my bride," which could symbolize new beginnings, and the repeated reminder that "the war was over, almost." This refrain acknowledges the lingering impact of the war while still looking toward a future filled with potential.

Through "Driving West in 1970," Bly captures a snapshot of America at a pivotal moment, conveying the sense of liberation, the search for meaning, and the cautious optimism that defined the early 1970s. The poem is a reflection on the power of journeys, both literal and metaphorical, to transform and heal, serving as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of change and uncertainty.

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