Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Randall Jarrell's poem "On the Railway Platform" intricately explores the themes of inevitability, displacement, and the nature of journeys, both literal and metaphorical. The poem begins with the phrase "Muss es sein? Es Muss sein! Es Muss sein."—a German expression meaning "Must it be? It must be! It must be." This phrase sets the tone for the poem, reflecting a sense of inescapable destiny and acceptance of the inevitable.

The opening lines describe the "rewarded porters opening their smiles" and the contrasting imagery of "grapes with a card" and changing climates—from "the sun of bathers to the ice of skis." These lines juxtapose moments of joy and comfort with the harsh reality of transitions and change, emphasizing that regardless of the superficial pleasantries, "journeys are journeys." This statement underscores the fundamental truth that every journey involves movement and change, often accompanied by uncertainty and emotional turmoil.

The poem delves deeper into the existential aspect of travel, posing the question, "Where am I going?" This question resonates with all travelers who have wept, reflecting the universal human experience of seeking purpose and direction. The rhetorical question, "Is it once again only / The country I laughed at and nobody else? / The passage of a cell between two cells?" suggests a sense of disillusionment and the repetitive nature of life's journeys. It implies that travel may sometimes feel like moving between two indistinguishable points, leading to a sense of futility.

Jarrell's imagery captures the transient and often melancholic nature of travel. The "shadow / Falls from our beaches to the shivering floes," symbolizes the contrast between warmth and cold, familiarity and alienation. The mention of faces failing while watched, and darkness sucking "from the traveller his crazy kiss," evokes the ephemeral nature of human connections and the consuming nature of time and distance.

The poem's contemplation on tears and the irrevocable nature of leaving is poignant: "The tears are forming; and the leaver falls / Down the tracks no wheel retraces." This line highlights the irreversible nature of certain departures, where the path taken cannot be undone. The signs "Whose names name nothing, mean: Turn where you may, / You travel by the world’s one way," suggest that despite the myriad paths and choices, there is a singular, inevitable direction in which life moves.

In the concluding lines, Jarrell reflects on the permanence of departure and the illusion of destinations: "What we leave we leave forever: / Time has no travellers. And journeys end in / No destinations we meant." This stark realization emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the fact that often, the intended destinations and outcomes are not what we encounter. The "strangers / Of all the future" gazing helplessly past the travelers who cannot understand they have "come back to tomorrow’s city" underscores a sense of perpetual disorientation and the cyclical nature of existence.

The image of wandering "all night through the unbuilt houses" and taking "from strangers their unmeant kisses" evokes a haunting sense of dislocation and the search for connection in unfamiliar places. This suggests that despite our efforts to find meaning and belonging, we are often left navigating through incomplete structures and unintended interactions.

"On the Railway Platform" ultimately presents a profound meditation on the inevitability of change, the melancholy of travel, and the existential quest for meaning. Jarrell's vivid imagery and reflective tone invite readers to consider their own journeys, the destinations they seek, and the transient nature of human experience. The poem captures the essence of travel not just as a physical movement, but as a deeper, often unsettling journey through time, emotions, and the quest for understanding in an ever-changing world.

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