Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

June Jordan's "Directions for Carrying Explosive Nuclear Wastes Through Metropolitan New York" is a striking poem that marries the mundane with the catastrophic, blending practical driving instructions with the chilling implications of transporting hazardous materials through a densely populated area. The poem’s form and content work together to critique the absurdity and inherent danger of such a task, while also invoking a sense of helplessness and fatalism.

The poem begins with straightforward, almost bureaucratic directions, detailing the specific route one should take through New York: "Enter the Long Island Expressway at Brookhaven. / Proceed West. Exit at Hoyt Street in Astoria." These instructions, although precise and practical, immediately set up a tension between the ordinary act of navigating city streets and the extraordinary danger of what is being transported—explosive nuclear waste.

As the poem progresses, it adds layers of caution and meticulous care, which, while sensible, highlight the absurdity and enormity of the task. The “SPECIAL NOTE TO DRIVERS” introduces a series of mechanical and safety checks that escalate in frequency and specificity: "Check oil levels every five miles. / Change fan belt every thousand. / Check tire pressure every morning. / Change tires." The repetition and increasing urgency of these instructions create a mounting sense of anxiety and inevitability. The emphasis on constant vigilance ("Check rearview mirror and sideview mirror incessantly. / Keep eyes on road.") underscores the precariousness of the journey.

This meticulous attention to detail contrasts starkly with the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of urban life. The poem hints at the chaos and danger inherent in metropolitan areas with lines like "Grant all other vehicles and each pedestrian the right of way." This directive acknowledges the reality of navigating through crowded, bustling streets filled with unpredictable human behavior.

The poem’s crescendo reaches a critical point with the stark, almost pleading directives: "Do not pass. / Do not drive in the rain. / Do not drive in the snow. / Do not drive in the dark." These lines starkly contrast with the inherent need for such a dangerous transport to proceed regardless of conditions, thereby exposing the folly and risk of the enterprise. The final instructions, "Think about your mother and look out for the crazies," humanize the driver, reminding them—and the reader—of the personal stakes and the real human lives involved in this perilous task.

Jordan’s use of practical, mundane language juxtaposed with the catastrophic implications of nuclear waste transport serves to critique the bureaucratic and often impersonal nature of such operations. The poem subtly questions the sanity of such undertakings, suggesting that no amount of meticulous planning and safety checks can fully mitigate the inherent dangers. The detailed precautions read almost like a darkly comedic list, pointing to the absurdity of believing that such measures could ensure safety in such a high-stakes situation.

Moreover, the poem invokes a broader social and political critique, hinting at the negligence or hubris of those who plan and execute such dangerous activities without adequately considering the potential consequences for millions of city dwellers. The poem's detailed directions and safety checks might be seen as a metaphor for the illusion of control in the face of potentially disastrous consequences.

In "Directions for Carrying Explosive Nuclear Wastes Through Metropolitan New York," June Jordan masterfully combines the banal with the terrifying, using the structure of practical instructions to underline the absurdity and danger of transporting hazardous materials through a populated urban environment. The poem serves as a poignant critique of bureaucratic rationality and the often overlooked human cost of industrial and technological risks.

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