Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dorianne Laux’s “The Ebony Chickering” is a rich and evocative tribute to the speaker’s mother, capturing her resilience, artistry, and complexity through the lens of a cherished piano. The poem juxtaposes the mundanity of daily life with the transcendent power of music, revealing the mother’s multifaceted identity as both a caretaker and an artist. Through vivid imagery and tender nostalgia, Laux explores themes of sacrifice, creativity, and the quiet assertion of individuality within the constraints of domestic life.

The poem begins by grounding the reader in the tactile realities of the mother’s kitchen: “My mother cooked with lard she kept / in coffee cans beneath the kitchen sink.” This opening situates her in the routine labor of motherhood, with the “bean-colored linoleum” and “cracked eggs” symbolizing the repetitive, unglamorous work that sustains the family. Yet, even amid this domestic setting, there is a subtle suggestion of artistry in the act of cooking—smooth ceramic bowls, eggs cracking, and dough being beaten—gestures that mirror the precision and rhythm of her musical practice.

The mother’s transition from the kitchen to the piano marks a shift from duty to personal expression. Her preparations—folding her apron, adjusting her curlers, and tying a scarf—signal a deliberate move toward reclaiming a space and time for herself. The piano, described as “the one thing my father had given her that she loved,” becomes both a literal and symbolic refuge. Its “hidden hammers trembling like a muffled word” evoke a sense of suppressed emotion and untapped potential, underscoring how the piano serves as an outlet for the mother’s inner life.

Laux’s language captures the mother’s reverence for music and its transformative power. Words like “arpeggio” and “fugue” shimmer with an almost magical quality, emphasizing the mother’s love for the technical and emotional depth of classical compositions. Her instruction to “always trust your ear” reflects a philosophy of intuition and attentiveness, qualities she imparts to her children alongside the practicalities of life. The mother’s connection to composers like Bach and Chopin lends her an air of sophistication, her musical pursuits setting her apart from the neighborhood’s mundane rhythms.

The poem’s middle section contrasts the mother’s artistry with the external world. While she plays Beethoven “as if she understood / the caged world of the deaf,” her music spills out into the cul-de-sac, a striking image of transcendence amid suburban banality. The other mothers, busy with their domestic chores, form a silent backdrop, emphasizing the mother’s unique blend of defiance and devotion. Her children, meanwhile, oscillate between indifference and awe, kicking each other on the couch even as they absorb the language of music and the sense of elegance their mother embodies.

Laux doesn’t idealize the mother but portrays her as a nuanced figure balancing imperfection and grace. Her willingness to let the house remain “messy” and her resourcefulness in teaching her children “quick easy meals” speak to her pragmatic resilience. At the same time, her moments at the piano reveal a deeper, almost sacred dimension to her character. The Sparklets man’s weekly visits add a subtle layer of romantic intrigue and admiration, his glossy-eyed listening and brief touch hinting at the mother’s allure and the way her music connects her to the wider world.

The poem concludes with an image of the mother as both ordinary and extraordinary, a woman who transforms the humdrum of life into something luminous through her passion for music. The final exchange between the mother and the Sparklets man—her slipping him the check as he bows—captures her dignity and the quiet recognition of her talent.

“The Ebony Chickering” is ultimately a celebration of the mother’s strength and artistry, her ability to create beauty and meaning within the confines of a demanding life. Laux’s vivid imagery and heartfelt narrative invite readers to reflect on the often-overlooked dimensions of parenthood, artistry, and the legacies of love and resilience passed down through generations.

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