Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Pond, Porch-View: Six P.M., Early Spring," Rita Dove captures a reflective moment of contemplation, where the speaker examines the trajectory of her life against the backdrop of a serene evening. The poem uses the metaphor of a porch overlooking a pond to delve into themes of aging, acceptance, and the reconciliation of one’s youthful aspirations with the realities of adult life.

The opening lines introduce us to the speaker's attempt to channel her thoughts "the way they used to wend when thoughts were young," immediately setting a nostalgic tone. The parenthetical remark "(i.e., accused of wandering)" adds a playful, slightly self-deprecating note, acknowledging how the wandering nature of youthful thoughts is often criticized but also cherished as a sign of creativity and freedom. This reflects a longing for the less structured, more imaginative thought processes of childhood, contrasting with the more fixed and perhaps resigned patterns of thinking in adulthood.

As the poem unfolds, the imagery of the sunset etching "another notch into the pressure treated rails of the veranda" serves as a poignant metaphor for the passage of time—each notch representing a moment that has irrevocably marked the speaker, just as time leaves its imprint on us all. This imagery is intertwined with the speaker’s realization that her "heart, too, has come down to earth," suggesting a settling, or grounding, of youthful flights of fancy and ambitions.

The notion of missed opportunities is poignantly captured in the lines about missing the chance "to put things in reverse, recapture childhood’s backseat universe." Here, Dove employs the metaphor of a childhood car ride—a time when imagination could transform the backseat into an entire universe, unbounded and full of potential. The current reality, contrasted with this memory, is likened to "riding on a bus through unfamiliar neighborhoods"—a journey that is more passive, the path determined by others, with the scenery rapidly changing and beyond one's control.

The description of the view from the bus as "chopped square and dimming quick" further enhances the theme of life’s fleeting nature and the dimming of possibilities as one ages. The reclined chair symbolizes a resignation to this reality, a letting go of the active pursuit of dreams in favor of a more observational stance towards life’s unfolding.

However, the speaker’s introspection leads to a poignant, albeit reluctant, acceptance of her current state. The metaphor of the Canadian goose, which had aspired to end up "anyplace but here" yet finds itself exactly where it perhaps was meant to be, mirrors the speaker's own journey. The line "Who am I kidding? Here I am" is a powerful acceptance of self and place. It suggests a reconciliation with her life's outcomes, acknowledging that despite the dreams and the paths envisioned, there is a form of peace and perhaps inevitability in arriving and embracing 'here'—wherever that may be.

Through "The Pond, Porch-View: Six P.M., Early Spring," Rita Dove explores the complexities of aging, the acceptance of life as it is, rather than as one hoped it would be. This poem resonates with anyone who has faced the realization that life does not always align with youthful plans and dreams, yet there is beauty and acceptance to be found in the landscapes we inhabit, both physically and emotionally.

POEM TEXT: https://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/2019/12/rita-dove-and-on-the-bus-with-rosa-parks/

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