Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Frost's "When the Speed Comes" delves into the overwhelming and relentless nature of industrial labor, capturing the fatigue and mechanical monotony experienced by workers. The poem's structure, composed of an octave with an ABBAABBA rhyme scheme followed by a sestet with CDECDE, resembles the Petrarchan sonnet form. This formal choice underlines the tension and resolution inherent in the subject matter.

The poem opens with the arrival of "speed," a metaphor for the onset of industrial machinery and the demanding pace of factory work. Frost personifies speed as "a-creeping overhead," suggesting an insidious, ever-present force that dominates the environment. The description of "belts begin to snap and shafts to creak" vividly conveys the mechanical strain and weariness, emphasizing the physical and auditory impact on the workers. This auditory imagery is heightened by the line "the sound dies away of them that speak," illustrating how the noise of the machines drowns out human voices, symbolizing the dehumanizing effect of industrialization.

The "glassy floor" and "tapping tread" evoke the sterile, hard environment of the factory, where the floor's reflective surface contrasts with the workers' monotonous movements. The "dusty globes" shedding "a pallor" create an image of dim, oppressive lighting, adding to the sense of drudgery and exhaustion. The "breaths of many wheels" felt on the cheek convey the constant presence and influence of the machinery, further emphasizing the workers' immersion in this mechanical world.

Frost captures the physical and emotional toll of this environment with "unwilling is the flesh, the spirit weak," expressing the workers' reluctance and fatigue. The comparison of their effort to "arising from the dead" underscores the extreme difficulty and exhaustion they face, likening their daily toil to a struggle against death itself.

The poem's volta, or thematic shift, occurs in the sestet. Here, Frost addresses the necessity of labor despite the workers' weariness: "the task ne'er could wait the mood to come." This line acknowledges the unyielding demands of industrial work, where tasks must be completed regardless of the workers' physical and emotional state. The phrase "the music of the iron is a law" encapsulates the inescapable and rigid nature of factory life, where the rhythm and demands of the machinery dictate the workers' existence.

Frost employs the metaphor of "heavy spools that pay / Their slow white thread" to depict the relentless, unending production process. The "ruthlessly" humming spindles draw upon the workers' souls, leaving them "still sore from yesterday." This imagery highlights the continuous, unforgiving nature of industrial labor, where each day's toil accumulates, leaving no time for recovery or respite.

In conclusion, "When the Speed Comes" powerfully conveys the oppressive and dehumanizing effects of industrial labor. Through vivid imagery and careful attention to the sounds and sensations of the factory, Frost captures the physical and emotional toll on the workers. The poem's structure, mirroring the sonnet form, underscores the tension between the relentless demands of the machinery and the human spirit's struggle to endure. By highlighting the workers' plight, Frost offers a poignant commentary on the impact of industrialization on the human condition, revealing the cost of progress on individual lives.

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