Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Ron Padgett’s "You Again" is a humorous, stream-of-consciousness reflection on habits, discomfort, and the undercurrent of emotional turmoil that subtly threads through the mundane. Using his characteristic conversational tone, Padgett blends personal musings on smoking and daily life with unexpected shifts in thought, revealing deeper feelings beneath the surface of seemingly trivial concerns. The poem’s free-flowing structure mirrors the wandering nature of the mind, while the repetitive fixation on cigarettes serves as both a literal topic and a metaphor for broader emotional cravings or dependencies.

The poem opens with a candid admission: "I think I'm smoking too much too many cigarettes." This straightforward statement immediately introduces the central focus of the poem—smoking—as both a habit and a source of self-reflection. The repetition of "too much too many" emphasizes a sense of excess and loss of control, while also hinting at the speaker’s self-awareness and mild frustration with their behavior. This casual, almost confessional tone sets the stage for the poem’s meandering narrative.

Padgett quickly connects the act of smoking to his physical discomfort: "And with a sore throat coming on why don't I / Get to bed watch a string / Of late movies." The sore throat introduces a tangible consequence of the speaker’s habit, suggesting that despite knowing the harm, they continue to smoke. The transition from acknowledging the sore throat to the idea of watching a string of late movies reflects a common human tendency to seek distraction from discomfort or guilt through passive entertainment. This shift also highlights the poem’s loose, associative structure, where one thought flows naturally into another without strict adherence to logical progression.

The speaker then comments on their physical environment: "the apartment is colder than / Usual when it's usually verging on broiling." This observation introduces a sense of dissonance or imbalance, both in the external environment and, perhaps, in the speaker’s internal state. The unusual coldness of the apartment contrasts with its typical heat, mirroring the speaker’s fluctuating emotions and physical sensations. The next line takes a humorous turn: "if I were / A lobster I wouldn't be getting a sore throat and certainly / Wouldn't be smoking." This absurd comparison injects levity into the poem, while also emphasizing the irrationality of the speaker’s behavior. The image of a lobster, immune to both sore throats and the human vice of smoking, serves as a playful reminder of the speaker’s awareness of their own contradictions.

Padgett then brings in a commentary on geography and economics: "and cigarettes are so high / In New York an odd situation in Vermont." This shift from personal reflection to a broader observation about cigarette prices introduces an element of social commentary, albeit in a light, offhanded way. The mention of Vermont, known for its rural, less urbanized character compared to New York, adds a layer of contrast between places, suggesting that the speaker’s habits and experiences are shaped by their environment.

The speaker makes a brief, unconvincing resolution: "I'm going to stop smoking even / Though I love to smoke like a / Turk in Tulsa." The comparison to a Turk in Tulsa is both humorous and puzzling, blending cultural and geographical references in a way that feels intentionally disorienting. The phrase "love to smoke" juxtaposed with the intention to quit underscores the speaker’s ambivalence, highlighting the tension between desire and self-discipline. This line also reflects the broader theme of how habits, whether harmful or comforting, are deeply ingrained and difficult to break.

The poem then introduces another character: "the cigarettes are cheaper and Dick / Is smoking them up pretty soon he'll be back / To enjoy the luxury of smoking as opposed to the habit." The mention of Dick brings a social dimension to the poem, suggesting that smoking is not just a personal vice but also a shared experience or ritual. The distinction between the luxury of smoking and the habit reflects the speaker’s ambivalence, recognizing that smoking can be both an indulgence and a compulsion. This duality mirrors the complex relationship many people have with their vices, where pleasure and guilt coexist.

Padgett then shifts focus to literature: "I ought to read Cendrars but / He makes me want to smoke and squint and hit / Someone in the heart." The reference to Blaise Cendrars, a French poet known for his adventurous, bohemian lifestyle, introduces a layer of literary influence. Cendrars’s work evokes a romanticized image of the rebellious artist, and here, reading him triggers the speaker’s desire to smoke and engage in dramatic, emotional gestures. The line "hit / Someone in the heart" is both literal and metaphorical, suggesting a desire to connect deeply—or to express frustration—perhaps stemming from unresolved emotions.

This brings the poem to its emotional core: "as you've hit me / Every day this week." This sudden, personal confession reveals that beneath the musings on smoking and daily discomfort lies a deeper emotional wound. The you addressed here is left undefined, but the implication is that the speaker has been emotionally affected, possibly hurt, by someone close to them. This revelation casts the preceding lines in a new light, suggesting that the speaker’s fixation on smoking may be a coping mechanism for dealing with emotional pain.

The poem concludes with a defiant, almost childish assertion: "and I'm glad I don't drink so there." This closing line circles back to the theme of vices and self-control. While the speaker struggles with smoking, they take solace in the fact that they do not drink, as if to reclaim some moral high ground. The phrase "so there" adds a playful, defensive tone, suggesting both a resistance to judgment and a self-aware acknowledgment of their own contradictions.

In "You Again," Ron Padgett masterfully blends humor, introspection, and emotional vulnerability to explore the complexities of habit and the underlying feelings that often accompany them. The poem’s stream-of-consciousness style mirrors the wandering nature of the mind, capturing the interplay between mundane concerns and deeper emotional truths. Through his characteristic wit and candidness, Padgett invites readers to reflect on their own vices and coping mechanisms, reminding us that beneath our daily rituals often lie unspoken desires, frustrations, and wounds.

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