Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "Appearance and Reality" is a rich and layered exploration of identity, perception, and the passage of time. Through the metaphor of a turtle and the recollections of a childhood encounter, Ostriker delves into the complexities of how we see ourselves and others, and how these perceptions evolve over time.

The poem begins by describing the turtle, an "amphibian, crustacean" creature that embodies both hesitancy and withdrawal. The turtle’s "nooked neck" seems always in a state of deciding whether to peek out or retreat back into its shell, a dynamic that mirrors human behaviors of shyness and self-protection. The turtle is likened to a "hand / Puppet returned to its lacquered box" and a "ferocious child imprisoned in / Shyness," emphasizing the dual nature of this creature as both vulnerable and potentially fierce. This tension between appearance and reality—between what is seen and what is hidden—sets the stage for the deeper themes of the poem.

The poem then shifts to a memory of a child, presumably the speaker, who encounters a turtle in her backyard one August. The child’s interaction with the turtle is depicted with a blend of curiosity and amusement. She taps the turtle’s shell, admiring its "dish shape" and "polished markings," and she turns it over to examine its "tough olive underside." The child is captivated by the turtle’s physicality, by the mystery of what lies beneath its shell. She is particularly interested in seeing its "pursy face," imagining it to be shy but potentially fierce, "pink as the inside of a mouth" and perhaps equipped with "many sharpened teeth."

This encounter with the turtle becomes a metaphor for the child's own explorations of identity and the world around her. The turtle, "feigning nonentity," mirrors the child's own possible feelings of invisibility or shyness, yet the child is determined to uncover its true nature. However, when the turtle finally emerges, it is "not interested in her" and quickly "rows away" across the lawn, making its escape beneath a parked car. This moment of the turtle’s departure leaves the child with a sense of loss, but also with the "memory / Of weight and scurry, of dangled unmapped day." This memory, though fleeting, becomes a lasting impression, a symbol of the mysteries and uncertainties that shape our experiences and our understanding of the world.

As the poem moves forward, the child’s curiosity and sense of wonder evolve into an adult’s reflection on time and identity. The speaker, now described as having a "tan face elderly / And infantile at once," represents a fusion of past and present, of innocence and experience. This description, "mixed like geology," suggests that identity is layered and complex, shaped over time by a variety of experiences and influences. The speaker’s "pleated map or complicated sphere" of a face underlines the idea that our identities are not static but constantly shifting, much like the physical landscape.

The speaker's appearance, with "ash blond baby-hair" and "tender wisps" that lift in the breeze, evokes a sense of fragility and continuity with the past. Despite the passage of time, there is a continuity in the speaker’s curiosity and her approach to the world. The "blue and stainless eyes, / Almost unlashed, bright as a baby bird’s" indicate a retained innocence and wonder, even as the body has aged. The speaker’s body is "private and unembarrassed," suggesting a comfort with self and a lack of concern with societal judgments.

In the final lines, the poem returns to the idea of perception—how the speaker "feigns innocence" while allowing her gaze to "wander" curiously. The face, "friendly" and "really a mammal," underscores the human need for connection and understanding. The turtle, initially a symbol of hidden depths and potential fierceness, becomes a mirror reflecting the speaker’s own journey of self-discovery and the reconciliation of appearance with reality.

"Appearance and Reality" explores how our perceptions of ourselves and others are shaped by both internal and external factors. The turtle, with its dual nature, serves as a powerful symbol for the complexities of identity, while the speaker’s reflections on time and memory highlight the continuous evolution of the self. Through vivid imagery and a thoughtful exploration of the interplay between appearance and reality, Ostriker invites readers to consider how we navigate our own identities and how we are shaped by the memories and experiences that define us.

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