Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alice Fulton's "Risk Management" is a contemplative and vivid exploration of the tensions between routine, risk, and the desire for escape. Through a series of rich and detailed images, Fulton captures the monotonous yet precarious nature of modern life, especially within the context of corporate conventions and labor.

The poem opens with the image of "relentless escalators" carrying the attendees to a convention, setting the scene for a gathering that is both mundane and laden with the undercurrent of corporate machinations. The attendees, described as "homogeneous," sink into "easy chairs" with hearts "made of butter," suggesting a sense of comfort mixed with vulnerability and passivity.

Fulton introduces a moment of disruption with a "contained fire" that triggered the sprinkler system, turning the plush furniture to a burnt sienna, and envisioning venture capitalists hiding and discussing risk management amidst the chaos. This juxtaposition of a literal fire with the metaphorical fires of corporate strategy and survival highlights the constant balancing act between safety and risk in the business world.

The poem continues to delve into themes of surveillance and secrecy, with "mirrors under doors" and "dreaming of listening devices," portraying an atmosphere of paranoia and clandestine activities. The "money men who speak in megamergers" embody the high-stakes environment of corporate finance, where vast sums and significant decisions are cloaked in secrecy and strategic maneuvering.

The attendees, dressed in "checks and balances," represent the corporate uniformity and the longing to rise above the "drudge work, pulp work, grunt work." The desire to "ballet, croquet our days away" in a neon-lit world of excess speaks to a yearning for freedom and indulgence, contrasting sharply with the reality of their constrained existence.

Fulton captures the complexity of conventions, noting that they require accepting "as one thing something that's another and a different thing," pointing to the duplicity and pretense inherent in corporate culture. The speaker's internal longing to escape, to propose a spontaneous trip to "Lesser-Kvetching-in-Hogsheaven," reflects a deeper desire for authenticity and adventure, even as they acknowledge the improbability of such actions.

The poem shifts to a memory of chopping vegetables with denim-clad men and women to a rock band's beat, a scene filled with camaraderie and rhythmic energy, contrasting with the present's corporate sterility. This memory underscores the speaker's nostalgia for a time when life felt more genuine and vibrant.

In a powerful image, Fulton describes the preparation of an ice rink for a hockey game, where "7000 gallons of water churn with 200 of white paint," blending rhythm and precision in a large-scale, almost industrial process. This scene serves as a metaphor for the structured yet dynamic nature of life, where precision and routine coexist with the potential for spontaneity and excitement.

The foundry worker, with "light from a blast furnace" tiger-striping his back, embodies the fusion of risk and safety. His movements, likened to a ballerina's, highlight the grace and strain involved in managing heavy machinery, reflecting the delicate balance required in both physical labor and corporate strategy.

Fulton concludes with the image of majorettes leading a parade, their "vinyl thigh boots" and "molten suits" symbolizing the performance and spectacle of life. The batons that "soar, catch the light and twirl before they're caught" mirror the cyclical nature of risk and reward, capturing the essence of navigating life's uncertainties.

"Risk Management" by Alice Fulton is a nuanced reflection on the intersections of routine, risk, and the desire for escape. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful juxtaposition, Fulton invites readers to consider the complexities of modern life and the continuous balancing act between safety and adventure. The poem celebrates the rhythms and precisions of life, acknowledging the inherent risks while highlighting the beauty and grace found in both the mundane and the extraordinary.

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