Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Paul Muldoon’s poem "Kissing and Telling" is a nuanced exploration of intimacy, identity, and the ephemeral nature of relationships, delivered through the lens of a somewhat mysterious and free-spirited woman. Muldoon, known for his dense and intricate poetry, often blends personal reflection with cultural references, creating a textured narrative that challenges and engages the reader.

The poem begins with the image of the woman playing "The Songs of Leonard Cohen" on a "rickety old gramophone." Leonard Cohen’s music, often marked by themes of love, loss, and longing, sets a tone of melancholy and introspection. The woman in the poem is portrayed as someone deeply in touch with the romantic and the poetic, as suggested by her choice of music and the act of unbinding her tresses—a gesture that connotes both vulnerability and sensuality.

The reference to "William Morris dresses" situates her in a world that values aesthetic beauty and perhaps a certain kind of idealism. William Morris, a 19th-century designer associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, was known for his intricate, nature-inspired designs that often carried utopian ideals. The image of her stepping out of these dresses suggests a shedding of not just clothing but perhaps the ideals or identities associated with them. The narrator's realization that he "might just as well be anyone" underscores a sense of detachment or transience in the relationship. Despite the intimacy implied by the scene, there is a recognition that the connection is not unique or exclusive.

Muldoon’s use of seemingly disparate objects like "Goat’s-milk cheeses, Navajo rugs," and a "Dictionary of Drugs" adds to the sense of the woman as eclectic and somewhat elusive. These items suggest a person who draws from various cultural and intellectual sources, someone who "made wine of almost everything"—an alchemist of experiences, able to extract and transform the essence of the mundane into something richer. Yet, this ability also hints at a certain impermanence; wine, after all, is consumed, and what remains is only the memory of its taste.

The poem then shifts to a broader reflection on the woman's interactions with others: "How many of those she found on the street / and fetched back to her attic room." This line evokes an image of a transient existence, where people are picked up and discarded, much like objects. The attic room, a space often associated with storage or things kept out of sight, becomes a metaphor for her private world—one where promises are neither made nor expected to be kept. The phrase "to promise nothing, to take nothing for granted" captures the essence of her relationships, which are marked by a lack of commitment and an understanding that nothing is permanent.

The reference to an "axiom" she would "intone as though it were her mantra" suggests that the woman lives by a set of principles, perhaps cynical or pragmatic, that govern her interactions. This axiom, however, is left unspecified, leaving the reader to ponder what it might be—perhaps a belief in the impermanence of relationships, the futility of promises, or the inevitability of change.

The poem concludes with the narrator's confession: "I could name names. I could be indiscreet." This closing line introduces a tension between the urge to reveal and the choice to withhold. The narrator possesses knowledge of the woman’s past and her other lovers, but whether out of respect, fear, or understanding, he refrains from divulging it. This discretion suggests a final acknowledgment of the woman's autonomy and the complexities of her life, as well as a recognition of the boundaries that exist even in intimate relationships.

"Kissing and Telling" thus presents a portrait of a woman who is both captivating and enigmatic, a figure who moves through life with a sense of freedom but also leaves a trail of unanswered questions. Through rich imagery and carefully chosen references, Muldoon explores themes of love, loss, and the transient nature of human connections, inviting the reader to reflect on the ways in which we engage with those who enter and exit our lives.

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