Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Knees of a Natural Man" by Henry Dumas is a vivid and textured narrative poem that recounts a formative experience of a young boy with his father. Through their trip to the Fulton Fish Market and the subsequent events, Dumas portrays a slice of life that encapsulates lessons in survival, family dynamics, and the harsh realities of poverty. The poem is rich with sensory details and characterized by a conversational tone, offering deep insights into the father-son relationship and the life lessons imparted through their interactions.

The poem begins by setting the scene at Fulton Fish Market, where the boy and his father navigate "the guts and the scales," instantly immersing the reader in the visceral realities of their environment. This opening line paints a picture of a place teeming with life and death, underscoring the daily grind and hustle of those who frequent the market.

The father’s presentation of the dead fish with "eyes like throat spit" to the son, and his questioning "you hongry boy?" introduces a recurring motif of hunger—not just physical hunger, but perhaps a metaphorical hunger for life, experience, or sustenance in a broader sense. The son's response, "naw, not yet," suggests a reluctance or unreadiness to engage with the rawness of life his father is exposing him to, highlighting a gap in experience and perception between the two.

The father teaching the son how to pick usable fish from the throwaways conveys a lesson in resourcefulness and making do with what others discard, a survival skill crucial in their socio-economic context. The act of "scaling on our knees back uptown on Lenox" symbolizes the hard work and humility involved in their struggle to make ends meet, which is then juxtaposed with the small triumph of selling fish and keeping one for their meal.

Building a fire in the lot for cooking the fish becomes a communal activity when the father brings a friend along, and they share wine. The backyard setting, with a cat climbing for fish and the makeshift fire in an ash can, underscores a sense of community and making the best of one’s circumstances. It also illustrates a kind of ritualistic, almost celebratory aspect of their life, where even small successes are savored with shared wine and food.

The father's boast that "the boy cotch the big one" followed by a playful slap signifies a moment of pride and affection, albeit expressed in a rough, jovial manner. This interaction, along with the sharing of wine with the son, symbolizes the boy’s initiation into the adult world under his father’s guidance—imperfect, harsh, but also filled with moments of joy and pride.

As the evening progresses, the imagery of walking around the sparks "like we in hell" vividly captures the chaotic beauty of their environment, suggesting both danger and excitement—a metaphor for their lives on the margins of society.

The poem closes with the son's reflection on his next visit to the market, planning to take a long drink of wine first, signaling a shift in his attitude. This resolve may imply that he is beginning to embrace the lessons and lifestyle his father is imparting, stepping closer to the realities of adult life and its complexities.

"Knees of a Natural Man" is a poignant exploration of fatherhood, resilience, and the rites of passage from youth to adulthood within the context of urban poverty. Dumas masterfully uses the setting and interactions to paint a rich narrative that is both specific in its detail and universal in its themes of growth, hardship, and familial bonds.

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